t^ 


4 


No .VJ.2^ 


FIRST  CHURCH  OF   HARTFORD. 
Erected     1807. 


HISTORY 


First  Church  in  Hartford, 


1633-1883. 


BY 


GEORGE    LEON    WALKER. 


Illustrated. 


HARTFORD : 
1884. 


Copyright,  1884. 
By  George  Leon  Walker. 


iBedicated 


TO   THE 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH   IN  HARTFORD, 
Both  of  the  present  Fellowship  and  those  of  the  Disper- 
sion Scattered  Abroad, 
And  also  to  the  Memory 
Of  all  those  once  numbered  here 
Who  have  ceased  from  their  labors  and  entered  into  rest, 
as  a  tribute  of  love  and  honor 
For  the  living  and  the  dead, 
BY  this  Church's 
Fourteenth  Minister. 


?2niCST^ 


TIIEOIaOGICii 


PREFACE. 


The  duty  of  preparing  this  History  of  the  First  Church  in 
Hartford  seemed  to  be  laid  upon  the  writer  by  the  double  consid- 
eration of  the  absence  of  any  tolerably  adequate  narrative  of  the 
Church's  story,  and  the  anticipated  celebration  during  his  pastor- 
ate of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  its  eccle- 
siastical organization. 

To  these  incentives  was  added  the  further  one  that  not  only 
was  the  Church's  story  in  large  measure  untold,  but  certain  pas- 
sages of  that  story  had  been  to  a  considerable  extent  mistold. 

In  contemplating  the  undertaking,  the  writer  was  well  aware 
that  there  are  many  men  in  Hartford  better  qualified  by  nature 
and  by  long  familiarity  with  the  place  and  its  literature,  to  fulfill 
this  service  than  himself,  a  comparative  stranger.  Things  which 
to  them  are  a  part  of  family  tradition  or  of  early  and  scarce 
avoidable  acquaintance,  would  come  to  him  only  by  painstaking 
inquiry  or  accidental  discovery,  if  indeed  they  came  at  all. 

The  writing  o-f  a  History  of  this  Church  furthermore  was  an 
enterprise  made  the  more  difficult  for  any  one,  by  the  absence  to 
a  great  degree,  of  those  documentary  memorials  which  every  eccle- 
siastical establishment  is  supposed  to  keep  of  its  own  transactions. 

The  entire  documentary  records  both  of  Church  and  Society 
for  the  first  fifty-two  years  after  the  Church's  origin  have  disap- 
peared. The  story  of  that  whole  period  has  to  be  gathered  up 
so  far  as  it  can  be  gathered  at  all,  from  the  collateral  sources  of 
Township  and  Colonial  records,  subsequently  recorded  narratives, 
with  a  few  stray  ecclesiastical  relics  of  a  contemporaneous 
character. 

In  1685,  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  the  sixth  minister  of  this 
Church,  began  entering  in  a  little  volume  a  meager  account  of  his 
own   ministerial   acts,   and   to   some    extent   the   actions   of    the 


vi  PREFACE. 

Church;  continuing  it  to  his  death  in  1732.  This  account  the 
Revs.  Daniel  Wadsworth  and  Edward  Dorr  followed  by  similar 
entries  in  the  same  volume,  bringing  the  slender  chronicle  down 
to  the  year  1772.  From  that  period  and  throughout  the  entire 
pastorate  of  Dr.  Nathan  Strong,  and  until  the  installation  of 
Rev.  Joel  Hawes  in  18 18,  no  Church  record  remains. 

The  Society  records  have  been  happily  better  preserved,  from 
about  1685  onward.  Though  here,  again,  nothing  corresponding 
to  a  Treasurer's  account  can  be  found  for  very  considerable  por- 
tions of  the  period.  The  complete  and  satisfactory  telling  of  the 
History  of  the  First  Church  in  Hartford  was  therefore  an  impos- 
sibility, and  even  its  partial  narration  more  than  ordinarily 
difficult. 

Nevertheless  the  fact  remained  that  the  "  Centennial  Discourse" 
preached  by  Dr.  Hawes  in  1836,  was  the  only  attempt  which  had 
been  made  towards  a  consecutive  account  of  the  Church's  history  ; 
and  the  two  and  a  half  century  annniversary  of  its  birth  was  just 
at  hand. 

Whatever  his  deficiencies,  therefore,  the  writer  felt  called  on  to 
do  what  he  could  to  supply  the  lack  of  a  better  service.  He  was 
encouraged — especially  respecting  those  passages  of  the  history 
which  have  been  referred  to  as  in  a  measure  hitherto  mistold — by 
the  availability  for  present  use  of  certain  papers  unknown  to  Rev. 
Dr.  Trumbull  and  other  historians  of  Connecticut  ecclesiastical 
affairs;  but  whose  recent  discovery,  and  publication  in  1S70, 
make  an  explication  of  the  period  to  which  they  refer,  possible  as 
it  had  not  been  before. 

While  engaged  in  the  preparation  of  this  volume  and  when  it 
was  in  large  measure  ready  for  the  press,  the  occurrence  of  the 
Celebration  of  the  Anniversary  to  which  reference  has  above  been 
made,  called  on  the  writer  for  An  Address  for  that  occasion,  the 
material  for  which  was  largely  drawn  from  the  manuscript  of  this 
History ;  the  language  being  freely  appropriated  wherever  the 
writer  chose  to  use  the  phraseology  he  had  already  employed. 

Acknowledgments  for  assistance  in  this  undertaking  are  due 
to  many ;  but  especially  to  Dr.  J.  Hammond  Trumbull  and  Chas. 
J.  Hoadly,  Esq.,  whose  acquaintance  with  early  Connecticut  his- 
tory— unequaled  by  that  of  any  other  two  living  men — has  been 
with  utmost  kindness  put  at  the  writer's  frequent  service  ;  indica- 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


tions  of  which  fact  will  be  found  abundantly  scattered  through 
this  volume. 

Thanks  are  due  also  to  the  cooperate  interest  and  aid  of  the 
present  officers  and  members  of  the  First  Church  and  Society  in 
carrying  forward  this  work,  and  for  their  forbearance  in  tolerat- 
ing the  neglect  on  the  writer's  part  of  some  pastoral  service  he 
would  otherwise  have  performed.  Written  amid  the  pressure  of 
constant  parochial  labor,  and  some  family  anxieties  and  bereave- 
ments, this  History  of  the  First  Church,  is  now  commended  to 
the  kindly  consideration  of  all,  and  especially  of  those  who  know 
by  some  measure  of  experience,  both  the  difficulty  of  such  an 
endeavor  and  the  liability  to  error  in  the  most  conscientious  per- 
formance of  it. 

Hartford,  May,  1884. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


First  Church  of  Hartford,  -         -        -  Frontispiece. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Tilton,  ....  20 

Pastors'  Monuments  in  Old  Burying-Ground,     -  272 

Portrait  of  Dr.  Nathan  Strong,  -         -        -  333 

Portrait  of  Dr.  Joel   Hawes,        .        .        .        .  ^67 


Map  of  Hartford  in  1640, 

Ground  Plan  of  Meeting-house  in  1809, 


88 

466-7 


X  ^ixlKj  jU  J^yj^^ 


\TIISOIiOGIC-- 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

I.  1554-1633.     How  THIS  Church  Came  to  Be.  ...         i 

Events  of  the  year  1633. — Some  antecedents  of  these  events. — 
Separatist  movements  in  England. — Puritanism  under  James  and 
Laud. — The  settlement  at  Plymouth. — The  Dorchester  Adven- 
turers.— Planting  of  Salem,  Charlestown,  and  Boston  — Arrival 
of  the  Braintree  company. 

II.  1586-1633.     Thomas  Hooker  in  England  and  Hol- 

land        20 

Marfield,  Hooker's  birth-place. — Tilton  parish  church. — School  at 
Market  Bosworth. — Cambridge  and  Emmanuel  College. — Events 
of  Hooker's  University  years. — Rector  at  Esher. — Lectureships 
at  Chelmsford. — Silenced  by  Laud. — School  at  Little  Baddow. — 
Exile  in  Holland. — Ministerial  service  in  Amsterdam,  Delft,  and 
Rotterdam. — Departure  for  America. 

III.  1602-1633.     Stone,    and    the    Gathering    of    the 

Church 46 

Hertford  and  Samuel  Stone. — University  and  Divinity  schooling. — 
Towcester  Lectureship. — Association  with  Hooker. — Arrival  at 
Newtown. — Gathering  of  the  Church. — Induction  of  officers. — 
Pastor  and  Teacher. 

IV.  1633-1636.     The  Church  at  Newtown 66 

The  Newtown  settlement. — The  Thursday  Lecture. — Mr.  Hooker 
and  public  affairs. — Uneasiness  of  Newtown  settlers. — Argu- 
ments for  and  against  removal. — Attempts  to  settle  the  question. 
Motives  for  change. — Pioneer  sufferings. — Emigration  to  Con- 
necticut. 

V.  1636-1647.     TheTransplanted  Church  :  Early  Days,     86 

Arrival  at  Hartford. — Lay  out  of  town. — Temporary,  and  more  per- 
manent Meeting-House. — Pequot  war. — Mr.  Stone  as  Chaplain. 
— Mr.  Hooker's  Thanksgiving  sermon. — Difficulties  in  Boston 
B 


CONTENTS. 


Church. — The  Anne  Hutchinson  Synod. — Establishment  of  the 
Fundamental  Laws. — Mr.  Hooker's  agency  therein. — Presby- 
terianism  in  England. — Attempts  to  oppose  it  in  New  England. — 
The  Cambridge  Synod. — Death  of  Hooker. 

VI.  1629-1647.     Thomas  Hooker's  Writings.     .     .     .       118 

Pastoral  character  of  most  of  Mr.  Hooker's  works. — Introspective 
habit  of  religious  thought. — Vivaciousness  of  the  style. — Ex- 
amples :  A  clear  sight  of  sin. —  Why  such  a  sight  necessary. — 
Danger  of  self-deception. — Contentment  to  be  denied  mercy. — 
Union  between  the  soul  and  sin. —  God^s purpose  sometimes  only  to 
civilize  men. — But,  sometimes,  by  holy  violence  to  save. — Consola- 
tion of  a  good  hope. —  Wherto  the  Spirit  witnesses. — A  ground  of 
cheerfubiess  — Common  time  of  conversion. — A  powerful  minister. 
— Mr.  Hooker's  Survey  of  the  Summe  of  Chtirch  Discipline. 

VII.  1653-1659.     The  Quarrel  in  Stone's  Day.     ,     .      146 

Efforts  for  a  successor  to  Hooker. — Missionary  endeavors  for 
Indians. — Quarrel  in  the  Church. — Probable  occasion. — Stone's 
resignation. — Withdrawal  of  Elder  Goodwin's  party. — Council 
of  Connecticut  Elders. — Hearing  before  Elders  of  the  Bay. — 
Apparent  reconciliation. — Renewal  of  controversy. — Interfer- 
ence of  General  Court. — Vain  effort  for  a  council  called  by  it. — 
Council  at  Boston  and  its  findings. — Removal  of  Elder  Goodwin 
to  Hadley. — Pacification  of  affairs. — Witchcraft  in  Hartford. — 
Character  and  death  of  Stone. 

VIII.  1660-1679.     Whiting  and  Haynes  AND  THE  Division 

OF  THE  Church 182 

The  two  young  Pastors. — Contest  between  them. — Part  of  general 
New  England  controversy. — Extent  of  Church  membership  by 
Baptism. — Assembly  of  Elders  in  1657. — Half-way  Covenant. — 
Petition  of  William  Pitkin. — Effort  of  the  General  Court  to  force 
the  new  way  on  the  Churches. — Division  of  Hartford  Church. — 
Declaration  of  Second  Church.  —  General  concession  of  the 
Baptismal  issue. — Death  of  Mr.  Haynes. 

IX.  1679-1682.     Isaac  Foster  AND  Early  Church  Usages.  212 

Early  history  of  Mr.  Foster. — Negotiations  with  him  at  Windsor. — 
Settlement,  marriage  and  death  at  Hartford. — Gifts  at  this  period 
to  the  Church. — Early  church  usages. — Order  of  worship. — 
Singing  in  the  Hartford  Church. — Dignifying  the  Meeting- 
House. — Boys. — The  weekly  lecture. — Funerals. — Marriages. 


CONTENTS.  '  xi 

CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

X.  1683-1732,     Timothy   Woodbridge   and   His   Times.  238 

Mr.  Woodbridge's  antecedents. — Entrance  on  Hartford  ministry. — 
Depressed  condition  of  affairs. — Religious  decline  and  political 
anxiety. — The  Reforming  Synod. — Revival  in  Hartford  Church. 
— Working  of  the  Half-way  Covenant. — Woodbridge  disabled 
in  Boston. — His  interest  in  Indian  education. — Cooperation  in 
founding  the  College. — Controversy  about  its  location. — Estab- 
lishment of  the  Saybrook  Ecclesiastical  System — Woodbridge's 
old  age  and  death. 

XI.  1732-1747.     Daniel    Wadsworth   and    His    Times.  275 

Mr.  Wadsworth's  settlement. — Question  of  a  new  Meeting-House. — 
Previous  endeavors  for  one. — Mrs.  Woodbridge's  proposals. — 
Controversy  as  to  location. — Final  determination  on  burying- 
ground  lot. — Building  of  church  edifice. — Dedication  sermon  by 
Mr.  Wadsworth. — Mr.  Whitefield's  progress  through  New  Eng- 
land.— His  preaching  at  Hartford. — His  followers. — Rev.  James 
Davenport  and  his  trial. — Action  concerning  Whitefield  by  the 
Local  and  General  Association. — The  attitude  of  the  Pastors  on 
the  question. — Mr.  Wadsworth's  sickness  and  death. 

XII.  1748-1772.     Edward  Dorr  and  His  Times.     .     .      311 

Mr.  Dorr's  earlier  history. — Negotiations  for  his  settlement. — Condi- 
tion of  things  at  his  entrance  on  the  pastorate. — War  times. — 
Parish  matters. — Efforts  for  Episcopacy  in  Connecticut. — Cor- 
respondence of  the  General  Association  and  Presbyterian 
Synod. — Mr.  Dorr's  Election  Sermon. — Mr.  Dorr's  decline  and 
death. 

XIII.  1774-1816.     Nathan  Strong  and  His  Days.      .      333 

Rev.  Joseph  Howe. — Overtures  to  Mr.  Strong. — Settlement  of  terms 
and  ordination. — Financial  embarrassments  of  the  period. — 
Religious  condition  of  affairs. — Mr.  Strong's  business  ventures. 
— Signs  of  spiritual  awakening. — Revivals. — Strong  as  preacher 
and  writer. — Missionary  efforts. — Parish  fund  and  new  Meeting- 
House. — The  Conference  House. — The  "  North  Presbyterian 
Church." — The  Hartford  Association  on  Congregationalism. — 
Personal  traits  of  Dr.  Strong. — Endeavors  to  secure  a  colleague. 
— His  death. 

XIV.  18 18-1867.     Joel  Hawes  and  His  Days.     .     .     .     367 

Efforts  for  a  successor  to  Dr.  Strong. — Joel  Hawes'  first  appearance, 
candidacy  and  ordination. — The  new  Pastor's  energy. — Appoint- 
ment  of   a   Prudential    Committee. — Adoption   of    Articles  of 


Xii  '  CONTENTS. 


Faith  and  Covenant. — Revivals  in  this  pastorate. — Lectures  to 
young  men. — Dr.  Hawes'  writings. — His  personal  traits. — Society 
affairs. — Purchase  of  pews. — Organ  and  music. — Renovation  of 
church  edifice. — Settlement  of  Associate  Pastor. — Dissolution 
of  pastoral  relations  of  Mr.  Calkins  and  Dr.  Hawes. — Dr. 
Hawes'  old  age  and  death. 

XV.     1864-1883.     Notes  of  Later  Days 403 

Settlement  of  Rev.  George  H.  Gould. — f^vents  of  his  pastorate. — 
Rev.  Elias  H.  Richardson  and  his  ministry. — His  dismissal, 
removal  and  death. — Installation  of  a  successor. — Payment  of 
debt ;  procurement  of  new  organ. — Celebration  of  Two  Hundred 
and  Fiftieth  Anniversary. — The  future  of  the  First  Church. 

Officers  of  the  Church. 

Pastors  of  the  First  Church  in  Hartford, 412 

Ruling  Elder  of  First  Church 413 

Deacons  of  First  Church, 413 

Prudential  Committee • 415 

APPENDICES. 

Appendix  I.  Original  Proprietors  and  Settlers, 419 

"  II.  Thomas  Hooker's  Will  and  Inventory, 422 

"  III.  Poems  on  the  Death  of  Hooker, 426 

"  IV.  Notes  of  Mr.  Hooker's  Sermon, 429 

"  V.  Thomas  Hooker's  Published  Works, 435 

"  VI.  Poems  on  Mr.  Stone,  followed  by  his  Will,     ....  443 

"  VII.  Death  of  Samuel  Stone,  {second), 450 

"  VIII.  Saybrook  Articles, 452 

"  IX.  North  Association  Testimony  against  Whitefield,    .     .  456 

"  X.  Rev.  Daniel  Wadsworth's  Library, 458 

"  XI.  Subscribers  to  Fund  of  1802, 460 

'•  XII.  Sale  of  Pews,  and  Ground  Plan  of  House 462 

"  XIII.  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant  of  1822, 468 

"  XIV.  Subscribers  to  Repairs  of  1852, 471 

"  XV.  Subscribers  to  Payment  of  debt,  1879, 473 

"  XVI.  Description  of  New  Organ,  1883 475 

"  XVII.  Programme  of  Celebration  Exercises,  1883 478 


CHAPTER    I. 


HOW  THIS  CHURCH  CAME  TO  BE, 

The  year  1633  was  a  memorable  year  for  its  occurrences 
alike  in  Old  England  and  in  New. 

On  the  little  strip  of  ground  along  the  Atlantic  border, 
where  the  New  England  settlements  had  a  short  time  before 
got  their  first  feeble  footing,  events  took  place  which  brought 
new  encouragement  to  the  heroic  pioneers  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty  who  had  left  home  to  begin  a  new  life  on  a 
new  soil.  Between  February  and  October  there  had  arrived 
at  least  nine  vessels  from  England,  with  about  seven  hundred 
passengers  and  many  cattle.  In  one  «of  these  vessels,  the 
Griffin,  after  an  eight  weeks'  voyage,  came  several  men 
destined  to  take  a  large  place  in  history.  Among  them  was 
John  Cotton,  ordained  a  few  days  after  teacher  of  the  first 
church  in  Boston,  having  been  aforetime  a  distinguished 
minister  in  old  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire,  and  henceforth  the 
chief  expounder  of  religion  and  polity  in  the  Massachusetts 
colony.  Two  others  were  Thomas  Hooker  and  Samuel 
Stone,  lately  eminent  Puritan  Lecturers  at  Chelmsford  and 
Towcester,  respectively,  and  presently  to  join  a  waiting  con- 
gregation at  Newtown,  as  Pastor  and  Teacher  of  what  is 
now   known    as    the  First   Church  of   Christ   in    Hartford. 


2  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1554-1633. 

Another  of  the  same  company  was  John  Haynes,  "  a  gentle- 
man of  great  estate,"  soon  to  be  chosen  governor  of  the 
colony  of  Massachusetts,  but  to  be  better  known  to  us  as 
one  of  the  founders  and  long  the  governor  of  the  colony  of 
Connecticut.  With  these  came  about  two  hundred  other 
passengers,  many  being  "  men  of  good  estates."  "They  gat 
out  of  England  with  much  difficulty,  all  places  being  belaid 
to  have  taken  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Hooker,  who  had  been 
long  sought  for  to  have  been  brought  into  the  high  com- 
mission"  by  command  of  bishop  Laud.' 

This  same  year,  too,  a  new  settlement  had  been  effected 
at  Agawam,  now  Ipswich  ;  and  a  plot  on  the  part  of  certain 
enemies  of  the  colony  at  home,  for  the  revocation  of  the 
charter,  having  failed,  the  outlook  of  the  young  settlement 
seemed  bright  enough  to  justify  the  "  day  of  publique 
thanksgiveing  in  regard  of  the  many  and  extraordinary 
mercyes,"  which  was  ordered  to  be  observed  "through 
the  severall  plantacons."  ^  In  this  year  also  some  of  the 
Plymouth  colony  people  made  a  settlement  at  Windsor, 
and  the  Dutch  bought  land  and  built  a  fort  at  what  is 
now  Hartford  in  Connecticut. 

Across  the  water  in  old  England,  too,  the  year  1633  was 
one  of  important  events  having  a  direct  bearing  on  the 
welfare  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic. 

It  was  in  this  year  that  Wentworth  was  sent  lord  deputy 
to  Ireland  to  make  the  rule  of  the  King  there,  as  he  wrote  to 
Laud,  "  as  absolute  as  any  prince's  in  the  world."  ^  It  was 
this  year  that  Charles  attempted  his  invasion  of  the  liberties 
of    the    Kirk   of    Scotland    under   fhe    wing   of    the   royal 


'  Winthrop's  yournal,  i,  130. 

^  Mass.  Col.  Records,  i,  109. 

8  Green's  History  of  the  English  People,  iii,  155. 


I554-I633-]  HOW   IT  CAME   TO   BE.  3 

supremacy.  This  year  saw  also  the  proclamation  of  the 
King  ordering  every  minister  to  read  the  declaration  in  favor 
of  Sunday  afternoon  pastimes  ;  for  refusing  to  read  which 
"contradiction  of  the  command  of  God"  many  hundred 
"  ministers  were  driven  from  their  livings,  excommunicated, 
and  forced  to  leave  the  kingdom."  ^  This  was  the  year,  too, 
when  the  plan  of  the  Puritans  for  buying  up  some  of  the 
presentations  to  livings,  thereby  to  secure  in  some  measure 
the  preservation  to  themselves  of  Puritan  ministers  in 
cases  where  the  congregation  were  of  this  way  of  belief,  was 
roughly  put  an  end  to  by  the  citation  of  the  feoffees  into 
the  Star  Chamber  and  the  confiscation  of  the  purchase 
money. 

But  above  all  else  in  its  bearing  on  the  hopes  of  those 
who  had  the  welfare  of  the  Puritan  cause  at  heart,  the  chief 
event  of  1633  was  the  advancement  to  the  archbishopric  of 
Canterbury  of  that  most  bitter  and  relentless  enemy  of 
further  progress  in  the  Reformation — Laud  the  bishop  of 
London.  In  his  narrower  sphere  as  bishop  of  the  metropoli- 
tan diocese,  his  influence  had  been  potent  for  deprivation 
and  misery  to  a  multitude  of  the  most  godly  men  of  the 
region  in  the  vicinity  of  London,  among  whom  were  Cotton 
and  Hooker  who  have  been  just  mentioned.  He  was  now  to 
exercise  his  authority  on  a  wider  field,  and  with  the  recogni- 
tion of  the  fact  thus  forced  upon  them,  the  thoughts  of  still 
more  of  the  worried  pastors  and  flocks  of  the  mother 
country  turned  to  the  new  world  as  their  only  hope. 

These  events  of  the  year  1633,  happening  on  either  side 
of  the  Atlantic,  were  intimately  connected  with  a  long  series 
of  occurrences  which  had  preceded  them.  To  set  them  in 
their  proper  light  it  may  be  desirable  to  take  a  rapid  glance 


*  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritans,  i,  313. 


4  THE  FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1554-1633. 

at  a  few  of  the  more  important  incidents  which  may  be 
accounted  their  natural  progenitors. 

The  rupture  with  the  Roman  Pontiff  which  had  been 
effected  for  England  by  Henry  VIII,  and  the  declaration 
of  the  independent  authority  of  the  English  church,  were  not 
to  any  great  extent  a  religious  revival  or  a  doctrinal  reforma- 
tion. The  King  assumed  all  ecclesiastical  authority  into  his 
own  control,  confiscated  the  property  of  the  monasteries, 
restricted  the  reading  of  the  Bible  in  English,  asserted  his 
own  supremacy  over  all  the  teaching  of  the  clergy,  and  per- 
secuted with  relentless  vigor  all  who  questioned  his  claims. 
The  annals  of  his  reign  are  hallowed  by  the  story  of  many 
a  heroic  effort  for  liberty  and  truth,  and  by  many  a  painful 
sacrifice  in  their  behalf ;  but  when  the  corpulent  old  monarch 
was  hoisted  by  his  "  engine  "  up  stairs  for  the  last  time,  and 
the  ulcer  finished  at  once  his  life  and  his  iron  rule,  the 
retrospect  was  any  thing  but  a  pleasing  one  to  the  lover  of 
Christian  light  and  liberty.  The  Papacy  had  been  simply 
transferred  from  Rome  to  Hampton  or  Whitehall. 

His  son  Edward  VI,  whose  brief  reign  reaches  only  from 
1547  to  the  middle  of  1553,  was  educated  under  tutors  in 
sympathy  with  the  Reformation.  And  being  for  the  most 
part  under  the  guidance  of  Regents,  governing  in  his  name 
because  of  his  minority,  who  desired  a  better  settlement  of 
the  doctrines  of  the  church  and  a  reform  of  its  laws,  the 
Protestant  movement  made  considerable  advance.  Still  the 
cause  was  hampered  by  the  imperfect  sympathy  of  many 
of  the  bishops,  who  were  not  unwilling  to  preserve  the  con- 
dition of  things  established  by  the  late  King,  and  who  had, 
despite  the  nominal  separation  from  Rome,  more  or  less 
manifest  desire  for  a  better  understanding  with  the  Papal 
See. 


1554-1633]  HOW   IT   CAME   TO   BE.  5 

The  refusal  by  bishop  Hooper,  in  1550,  to  be  consecrated 
in  the  usual  Romish  vestments,  marked  the  beginning  of  a 
controversy  which  was  to  give  rise  to  the  Separatist  move- 
ment. But  the  revisal  of  the  liturgy  of  the  church  under- 
taken in  this  reign  gives  what  was,  after  all,  the  true  measure 
of  the  advance.  This  revisal  amounted  to  little  more  than 
the  translation  of  the  Roman  offices  into  English,  and  the 
omission  of  portions  essentially  offensive  to  Protestant 
ears,  and  the  addition  of  responses  to  be  voiced  by  the 
people,  who  had  hitherto  been  simply  spectators  in  public 
worship.  The  untimely  death  of  Edward  in  the  sixteenth 
year  of  his  life  and  the  seventh  of  his  reign,  put  a  period  to 
the  auspicious  beginning  which  had  been  made. 

With  the  succession  of  Mary,  the  Church  of  England  again 
became  Romanist.  The  reforms  of  her  brother  were  over- 
turned. The  old  laws  against  heresy  were  put  in  violent 
execution  against  all  who  advocated  Reformation  principles. 
Mary  married  Phillip  II,  and  the  English  people  were  forced 
to  see  a  Spaniard  cooperating  with  an  English  Queen  in 
restoring  the  practices  of  the  Inquisition  in  the  land.  Bishops 
Hooper,  Ridley,  and  Latimer,  Mr.  Rogers  and  many  other 
learned  and  godly  ministers,  were  burned  at  the  stake.  No  less 
than  two  hundred  and  seventy-seven  persons  suffered  death 
for  their  faith,  among  whom  were  five  bishops,  twenty-one 
ministers,  fifty-five  women,  and  four  children.^  These  cruel- 
ties, together  with  minor  persecutions  innumerable,  drove 
above  eight  hundred  Protestant  clergy  and  prominent  laity 
into  foreign  lands.''  Some  of  them  went  to  Switzerland  and 
some  to  Germany. 

Among  those  who  went  to  Germany  the  controversy  first 


^  Strype's  Monuments,  iii,  291, 
6  Neal,  i,  58. 


6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1554-1633. 

made  prominent  by  Hooper's  scruples  about  ecclesiastical 
vestments  was  emphasized,  and  resulted  in  the  party  of  Sep- 
aratism in  English  religious  history.  Some  of  the  exiles 
wished  to  preserve  the  ritual  of  King  Edward ;  others  desired 
to  reform  the  polity  and  liturgy  into  accord  with  the  Presby- 
terianism  of  the  Genevan  churches.  Separatism  is  therefore 
commonly  said  to  date  from  this  year,  1554.  The  numbers, 
however,  who  desired  separation  from  the  Church  of  England 
were  very  few  compared  with  those  who  only  wanted  a  reform 
of  the  doctrine  and  practice  of  the  church.  And  so  when 
the  accession  of  Elizabeth,  in  1558,  enabled  the  exiles  to 
return  to  their  home,  the  chief  struggle  of  the  reformers 
was  a  Puritan  rather  than  a  Separatist  endeavor. 

Some  distinctly  Separatist  movements  there  were  in  England 
about  1566;^  and  more  important  ones  afterward  there  will  be 
occasion  shortly  to  notice  ;  but  for  the  most  part  the  desire  of 
the  great  body  of  the  devout  clergy  was  for  purer  worship  and 
discipline  in  the  church  and  not  for  separation  from  it. 
Hence,  because  about  1564  many  of  the  clergy  refused  to 
comply  with  the  order  of  the  bishops,  enforced  by  the  Queen, 
to  subscribe  to  the  ritual  and  laws  the  Queen  had  determined 
should  be  established,  they  were  stigmatized  as  Puritans.  And 
as  the  Puritans  generally  agreed  with  Calvin  in  matters  of 
faith,  a  Puritan  came  to  stand  in  the  public  eye  as  a  man  of 
strict  morals,  Calvinist  'in  doctrine,  and  a  non-conformist  to 
the  ritual  and  discipline  of  the  church,  though  not  separating 
from  the  church  itself. 

The  long  and  eventful  reign  of  Elizabeth  considered  in  its 
ecclesiastical  aspect  on  the  Protestant  side  of  its  affairs,  was 
little  but  a  protracted  struggle  between  Puritanism,  advocated 
by  a  growing  body  of   devout  ministers    and  laymen,  and 

■^  Neal,  i,  104. 


1554-1633-]  HOW   IT   CAME   TO   BE.  7 

aided  by  a  considerable  number  of  avowed  Separatists  on  the 
one  side,  and  Conformity  backed  by  the  government  and  the 
chief  religious  authorities  of  the  land  in  church  and  state  on 
the  other.  In  this  struggle  the  Queen  showed  herself  the 
true  daughter  of  her  father.  Her  whole  force  of  will  and 
advantage  of  power  were  employed  to  crush  out  all  opposition 
to  the  order  of  church  administration  she  was  pleased  to  pre- 
scribe. She  established  a  new  tribunal  called  the  High  Com- 
mission for  the  trial  of  all  religious  and  ecclesiastical  offences, 
not  by  a  jury  of  twelve  men  hearing  evidence  according  to 
the  ordinary  laws  of  legal  procedure,  but  by  a  special  board 
of  commissioners  of  her  own  designation  empowered  to 
interrogate  the  accused  at  their  pleasure.  This  High  Com- 
mission proved  a  mighty  instrument.  Put  into  effective  oper- 
ation by  archbishop  Whitgift,  in  the  single  first  year  of  his 
administration,  1584,  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  ministers 
were  suspended  in  six  counties  of  the  Province  of  Canter- 
bury.^ 

Under  the  vigorous  procedures  of  this  body  no  less  than  a 
fourth  part  of  the  clergy  of  England  were,  at  one  time  and 
another,  under  suspension,  and  this  not  on  account  of  any 
moral  misbehavior  or  neglect  of  duty,  but  on  account  of  con- 
scientious scruples  which  forbade  them  to  wear  certain  eccle- 
siastical vestments,  for  declining  to  baptize  with  the  sign  of 
the  cross,  disusing  the  ring  in  marriage,  questioning  the 
divine  authority  of  the  episcopate,  and  refusing  to  sign  eccle- 
siastical rules  imposed  without  authority  of  law. 

To  people  of  the  present  comfortable  time  some  of  these 
particulars  of  objection  to  the  established  system  perhaps 
seem  insignificant.  To  the  actors  on  that  stage  they  were 
immensely  important.     The  cross  in  baptism  was  the  repre- 

*  Neal,  i,  157. 


8  THE  FIRST  CHURCH  IN  HARTFORD.         [1554-1633. 

sentative  symbol  of  a  whole  world  of  superstitious  ceremonies 
of  which  the  Roman  church  has  prescribed  the  observance. 
The  surplice  was  the  badge  of  that  hierarchical  separation 
of  ministry  and  people  which  long  ages  of  oppression  had 
made  so  offensive  and  which  the  new-awakened  sense  of  the 
brotherhood  of  all  believers  in  Christ  so  discountenanced. 
The  ring  in  marriage  was  the  token  of  the  Papal  doctrine 
which  made  matrimony  a  Christian  sacrament  under  the  sole 
authority  of  the  church.  The  bowing  at  the  name  of  Jesus 
was  a  seeming  impeachment  of  the  reverence  due  equally  to 
the  Father  and  the  Spirit.  The  observance  of  Saints'  days 
reminded  of  ecclesiastical  impositions  which  burdened  life 
with  their  restrictions  and  laid  a  yoke  on  conscience  too  hard 
to  bear.  The  rule  of  bishops  associated  with  temporal  digni- 
ties and  authority,  was  a  constant  assertion  of  a  claim  to  a 
supremacy  of  one  soul  over  many  souls  which  came  not  from 
the  word  of  God,  but  from  the  devices  of  man.  The  objec- 
tion was  based  on  no  mere  whimsy  of  sentiment.  As  in  a 
time  of  national  struggle  a  flag  may  be  the  symbol  of  princi- 
ples reaching  into  the  deepest  center  of  a  people's  life,  and 
of  memories  which  volumes  would  be  all  too  scant  to  unfold, 
so  in  the  place  where  the  Puritan  of  Elizabeth's  day  stood, 
the  ring,  the  cross,  the  surplice  were  signs  of  things  of  the 
utmost  concern. 

And  when  it  is  remembered  that  these  sentences  of  depri- 
vation and  silence  were  directed,  in  almost  all  cases,  against 
the  most  learned  as  well  as  most  devout  of  the  clergy  of  a 
church,  in  which  it  is  estimated  that  at  this  time  not  one  in 
six  was  capable  of  composing  a  sermon,  some  suggestion  may 
be  had  of  the  wrong  done,  not  alone  to  religion  but  to  intel- 
ligence, by  the  rigorous  demand  of  Elizabethan  conformity. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  great  body  of  the  clergy  who 


1554-1633-]  HOW   IT   CAME   TO   BE.  n 

sympathized  with  reform  in  church  affairs  were  Puritan 
rather  than  Separatist.  This  is  undoubtedly  tru6;  but  there 
were  all  along  in  the  latter  portions  of  this  reign  the  earnest 
advocates  of  such  a  reform  in  church  polity  as  meant  only 
separation.  In  1572,  Thomas  Cartwright,  Margaret  Profes- 
sor of  Divinity  at  Cambridge,  had  preached  practical  Presby- 
terianism,  and  had  secured  the  assent  of  many  of  the  neigh- 
boring clergy.  In  1580,  Robert  Browne  became  an  object 
of  governmental  disquietude  for  his  public  preaching  of 
separation  from  the  church  of  England  as  the  only  hope  of 
reform.  He  had  a  long  and  arduous  struggle  in  the  setting 
forth  of  his  views,  having  been,  as  he  tells  us,  in  the  process 
committed  "  to  thirty-two  prisons,  in  some  of  which  he  could 
not  see  his  hand  at  noon-day."  He  was  obliged  at  length  to 
exile  himself  with  some  of  his  followers  to  Middleburg,  in 
the  Netherlands,  where  he  established  a  congregation.  It  was 
from  this  pioneer  in  Independency  that  the  advocates  of  sep- 
aration derived  their  nickname  of  Brownists.  But  however 
stigmatized  or  persecuted,  Brownism  grew  and  had  its 
martyrs.  In  1583,  John  Copping  and  Elias  Thacker  were 
executed  for  "  dispersinge  of  Browne's  bookes."  John  Green- 
wood and  Henry  Barrowe  were  hanged  in  1593,  for  publish- 
ing opinions  of  the  same  kind.  John  Penry  and  William 
Dennis  sufifered  the  same  fate.  Nevertheless  the  same  year 
which  saw  the  execution  of  Greenwood  and  Barrowe,  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  said  in  the  House  of  Commons,  "  I  am 
afraid  there  is  near  twenty  thousand  Brownists  in  England." 
So  strenuous,  however,  were  the  measures  employed  for  their 
repression  that  at  a  later  period  of  the  Queen's  reign  Lord 
Bacon  was  enabled  to  write,  "as  for  those  we  call  Brownists, 
they  are  now,  thank  God,  by  the  good  remedies  which  have 
been    used,   suppressed,   and    worn   out;    so  that   there   is 


lO  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [1554-1633. 

scarce  any  news  of  them.'"  Some  of  their  principal  minis- 
ters withdrew  to  Holland  and  established  there  religious 
bodies,  of  which  more  will  be  heard  hereafter. 

It  was  fondly  hoped  by  those  who  had  suffered  under  the 
repressive  administration  of  Elizabeth,  that  the  accession  of 
James,  in  1603,  would  bring  some  relief.  James  had  been 
educated  a  Presbyterian.  He  had  written  Calvinistic  com- 
mentaries on  the  Scriptures.  He  had  been  the  ostentatious 
champion  of  anti-prelatical  views  of  the  continental  churches. 
He  was  a  man  of  scholarship  and  was  hoped  to  be  a  man  of 
Puritan  convictions. 

But  the  hopes  awakened  were  doomed  to  early  disappoint- 
ment. James  was  met  on  his  journey  up  to  London  by  a 
deputation  bearing  what  is  called  the  Millenary'"  Petition, 
praying  "as  faithful  ministers  of  Christ  and  loyal  subjects  to 
his  Majesty"  for  the  redress  of  some  abuses. 

The  reforms  were  substantially  those  to  which  reference 
has  before  been  made  as  those  which  the  Puritans  com- 
monly desired. 

As  a  response  to  this  petition  the  King  appointed  a 
meeting  at  Hampton  Court,  ostensibly  to  confer  with  the 
representatives  of  the  petitioners  concerning  the  proposed 
reforms.  The  Conference  was,  however,  only  a  farce.  Nine 
bishops  of  the  church  and  as  many  more  of  its  higher 
dignitaries  represented  the  old  order  of  things,  and,  as  it 
proved,  represented  also  the  King.  For  the  Puritans  only 
four  ministers  were  allowed  to  appear.  They  were  Dr. 
Raynolds,  Dr.  Sparks,  Mr.  Knewstubs,  and  Mr.  Chaderton  ; 
of  the  latter  of  which  reverend  gentlemen  there  will  be 
occasion  to  speak  again.     The  Conference  lasted  nominally 


3  Green,  iii,  34. 

"'  From  the  popularly  supposed  thousand  of   its  signatures.     There  were  in 
fact  over  eight  hundred. 


1554-1633]  HOW   IT   CAME  TO   BE.  1 1 

three  days.  But  it  was  throughout  little  more  than  a  series 
of  taunting  enquiries  and  offensive  lectures  addressed  to  the 
Puritan  representatives  by  the  church  party  and  the  King. 
James  interrupted  them  with  the  command  to  "awaie  with 
their  snyvelings,"  and  ended  with  the  declaration,  "  if  this  is 
all  your  party  have  to  say,  I  will  make  them  conform  or  I 
will  harry  them  out  of  this  land,  or  worse." 

The  Puritans  saw  they  had  nothing  to  hope  for  from  the 
King.  He  put  himself  into  the  hands  of  the  ecclesiastics  ; 
he  practically  renounced  the  Calvinistic  sympathies  which 
he  had  cherished  in  Scotland,  and  became  identified  with 
those  who  advocated  Arminianism  in  doctrine  and  High 
Churchism  in  polity.  The  vain  and  obstinate  prince,  with 
considerable  learning  and  shrewdness,  was  wholly  unable  to 
comprehend  the  temper  of  the  English  people  over  whom  he 
was  to  rule.  "  Do  I  mak  the  judges  .-'  Do  I  mak  the  bish- 
ops .'' "  was  his  childish  exclamation  of  satisfaction  as  the 
prerogatives  of  his  new  empire  were  disclosed  to  him,  "then, 
God's  wauns,  I  mak  what  likes  me,  law  and  gospel."  He 
more  and  more  withdrew  from  the  wisest  advisors  of  his 
government,  and  put  successive  favorites  like  Carr  and 
Villiers  in  their  places. 

The  court  of  the  Presbyterian  Scotsman  became  notorious 
for  its  profligacy.  Peerages  were  sold  to  meet  the  need  of 
an  exchequer  which  an  alienated  house  of  Commons  refused 
to  replenish.  Negotiations  for  a  marriage  of  the  Crown 
Prince  were  opened  with  the  king  of  Spain.  James  dis- 
solved his  last  Parliament  in  162 1,  tearing  from  the  journals 
of  the  house  with  his  own  hands  the  assertion  of  the  "  liber- 
erties  of  the  subjects  of  England,"  which  were  inscribed  on 
the  pages,  exclaiming  :  "  I  will  govern  according  to  the  com- 
mon weal,  but   not  according  to  the  common  will."      He 


12  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1554-1633. 

imprisoned  ten  excellent  ministers  who  dared  to  present  a 
moderate  petition  for  church  reforms  ;  such  petition  being 
declared  to  be  "  fineable  at  discretion,  and  very  near  to  trea- 
son and  felony." 

Naturally  discouraged  by  such  a  condition  of  affairs,  some- 
time in  1608,  the  Separatist  congregation  at  Scrooby,  of 
which  Richard  Clifton  was  pastor,  and  John  Robinson 
teacher,  and  William  Brewster  ruling  elder,  and  William 
Bradford  the  most  important  lay  member,  succeeded  in 
leaving  England  and  took  up  a  brief  residence  at  Amster- 
dam, from  which  place  they  removed  to  Leyden. " 

From  this  Leyden  church  in  1620,  a  portion  of  the  number 
impelled  by  the  limitations  of  their  condition  in  a  foreign 
country  and  among  people  who  spoke  a  different  language, 
voyaged  to  America,  landing  on  December  21st,  at  Plymouth, 
and  setting  up  on  the  barren  shore  of  this  vast  continent, 
the  first  New  England  church  of  God.  Robinson  did  not 
come  with  them.  He  watched  over  those  who  remained  on 
the  soil  of  Holland  and  sent  his  counsels  to  those  who 
departed  to  the  new  world  till  1625,  when  he  died. 

Meanwhile  the  Puritan  struggle  went  on  in  England  with 
small  prospect  of  cheer.  Charles  I,  succeeded  his  father  in 
the  same  year  Robinson  died,  1625  ;  a  man  of  sweeter 
nature  than  James,  but  weak,  bigoted,  and  insincere.  He 
was  a  Stuart,  and  he  married  a  beautiful  but  imperious  and 
fanatical  Catholic,  Henrietta  of  France.  The  country  was 
for  generations  to  rue  that  unfortunate  alliance. 

He  summoned  his  first  Parliament  in  1625,  but  being 
annoyed  by  the  caution  of  the  Commons  in  voting  supplies 
before  they  had  some  security  for  the  better  administration 
of  government,  he  dissolved  it  even  before  his  coronation. 


''  Dexter's  Congregationalism  in  Literature,  p.  380. 


1554-1633-]  HOW   IT   CAME   TO   BE.  1 3 

Forced  by  the  exigencies  of  his  treasury  to  call  another  in 
1626,  he  imprisoned  Sir  John  Eliot  who  had  spoken  against 
Villiers,  the  infamous  favorite  whom  Charles  had  made 
duke  of  Buckingham,  and  dissolved  Parliament  again.  He 
undertook  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  convening  the  obnoxious 
legislators  by  levying  forced  loans  ;  but  overwhelmed  by 
debt  he  was  obliged,  in  1628,  to  issue  summons  for  Parlia- 
ment to  meet  again. 

When  this  Parliament  assembled,  the  first  question  called 
up  was  that  of  religion.  Memorable  in  all  his  history  is  the 
address  of  Sir  John  Eliot  in  declaring  the  primal  place  in  all 
public  as  well  as  private  affairs  of  religious  truth  and  behav- 
ior. The  Commons,  in  sympathy  with  the  eloquent  orator, 
refused  to  consider  any  question — not  even  of  tonnage  and 
poundage,  the  sore  questions  of  the  exchequer — till  the 
religious  grievance  was  discussed.  The  determination  was 
met  by  dissolution  once  more.  Henceforth  for  eleven  years 
no  Parliament  was  to  assemble.  The  government  of  Eng- 
land was  to  be  absolute  monarchy.  The  chief  leader  of  the 
opposition,  Eliot,  was  imprisoned  and  kept  incarcerated  till, 
three  years  after,  he  died.  Charles  refused  the  request  of 
his  relatives  to  convey  his  relics  to  the  family  burial  place. 
He  lies,  one  of  the  martyrs  for  liberty,  in  the  grave-yard  of 
the  Tower. 

William  Laud,  bishop  of  London,  a  sincere,  but  a  narrow- 
minded  and  truculent  ecclesiastic,  was  the  King's  chief  ad- 
visor in  religious  affairs.  He  was  a  bitter  hater  of  popular 
rights,  and  an  almost  undisguised  lover  of  Papistic  doctrines 
and  ceremonies.  The  affairs  of  the  High  Commission  court 
were  entrusted  to  his  hands,  and  his  use  of  these  powers  was 
one  of  the  things  against  which  Parliament  had  complained 
to  the  King  as  "  discouraging  orthodox  and  painful  ministers, 


14  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1554-1633. 

though  conformable  and  peaceable  in  their  behaviors."  No 
bar  now  stood  in  the  way  of  Laud's  vigorous  malignity.  He 
harried  the  Puritan  ministers  of  the  diocese — the  largest 
and  most  distinguished  in  the  nation  —  without  rest  and 
without  mercy.  Thomas  Shepard,  afterward  the  saintly 
pastor  at  Cambridge  in  America,  and  son-in-law  to  Thomas 
Hooker,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Hartford,  gives  a 
graphic  account  of  his  own  citation  before  Laud  in  1630.  He 
says,'"  in  speaking  to  him,  Laud  "looked  as  though  blood 
would  have  gushed  out  of  his  face,  and  he  did  shake  as  if  he 
had  been  haunted  by  an  ague  fit.  ...  He  fell  then  to  threaten 
me,  and  withal  to  bitter  railing,  calling  me  all  to  naught,  say- 
ing, 'You  prating  coxcomb,  do  you  think  all  learning  is  in 
your  brain.?  I  charge  you  that  you  neither  preach,  read, 
marry,  bury,  or  exercise  any  ministerial  function  in  any  part 
of  my  diocese  ;  for,  if  you  do,  I'll  be  upon  your  back,  and  fol- 
low you  wherever  you  go,  in  any  part  of  the  kingdom,  and  so 
everlastingly  disenable  you.'  " 

It  is  not  strange  that  in  this  condition  of  affairs,  alike  civil 
and  religious,  the  thought  of  many  besides  avowed  Separatists 
should  have  been  turned  toward  the  new  world  as  their  only 
hopeful  prospect.  And  it  doubtless  considerably  increased  this 
disposition  and  made  it  at  once  more  intelligent  and  resolved, 
that  Bradford  and  Winslow's  Journals  about  the  affairs  of  the 
emigrants  to  Plymouth  had  been  published  in  London, 
respectively  in  1622  and  1624,  and  had  brought  the  condition 
of  the  new  colony  there  to  the  popular  attention.  The 
seed  was  sown  on  prepared  soil,  for  the  Puritan,  not  much 
better  than  the  Separatist,  could  see  safety  or  indeed  exis- 
tence in  England. 


'2  Shepard's  Memoir  of  Himself  in   Young''s  Chronicles  of  Massachusetts,  p. 
519- 


1554-1633-]  HOW   IT   CAME   TO   BE.  1 5 

Accordingly  about  the  year  1622  a  company  of  eminent 
persons  under  the  advice  of  Rev.  John  White,  "  a  famous 
preacher  of  Dorchester "  in  England,  and  "  destined  to  be 
under  God  one  of  the  chief  founders  of  the  Massachusetts 
Colony  in  New  England,"  '"  and  a  clergyman  of  the  Establish- 
ment, of  great  weight  of  character,  had  organized  what  is 
known  as  the  "  Dorchester  Adventurers  "  association.  They 
designed  to  make  a  settlement  at  Cape  Ann,  and  carry  on  the 
fishing  business  ;  conceiving  "  that  the  planting  of  the  land 
might  go  on  equally  with  fishing  on  the  sea  in  that  port  of 
America."  " 

■  After  one  or  two  ineffectual  efforts  to  carry  out  their  pur- 
pose, a  company  under  the  lead  of  John  Endicott  finally  set- 
tled down  at  "  Naumkecke,"  now  Salem  (a  place  of  hoped- 
for  peace),  in  September,  1628.  A  year  later  the  Dorchester 
Adventurers  company  being  reorganized  and  much  enlarged, 
a  royal  charter  was  obtained  under  the  name  of  the  "  Gover- 
nor and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  Eng- 
land." For  fifty-five  years  this  charter  continued  the  funda- 
mental law  of  the  Colony. 

The  securing  of  this  charter  was  like  a  trumpet  call  to  the 
Puritans  of  England.  They  began  at  once  to  prepare  for 
emigration  to  the  new  land  of  promise.  In  the  spring  of  1629  a 
fleet  of  five  ships  sailed  from  Gravesend  for  Salem  with  three 
hundred  men  and  eighty  women,  "  and  a  convenient  propor- 
tion of  rother-beasts,"  i.  e.  cattle.  They  had  with  them  Rev. 
Samuel  Skelton  and  Rev.  Francis  Higginson,  under  agree- 
ment for  "preaching  and  catechising,  as  also  in  teaching  the 
company:  servants  and  children,  as  also  the  salvages  and 
their  children,  whereby  to  further  the  main  end  of  this  plan- 


'^  Hubbard's  Narrative,  Young^s  Chronicles,  p.  25. 
"  Ibid,  p.  23. 


l6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.       [1554-1633. 

tation,  being  by  the  assistance  of  Almighty  God  the  conver- 
sion of  the  salvages."  "  Four  weeks  after  their  arrival  in 
Salem  these  two  ministers  were  set  over  the  church  gath- 
ered at  the  same  time,  July  20,  1629,  as  its  pastor  and 
teacher. 

The  method  of  their  appointment,  and  its  significance  as 
bearing  on  the  question  of  ecclesiastical  Separation,  there  will 
be  occasion  to  notice  in  another  connection.  Suffice  it  here 
to  say  that  the  organization  of  the  Salem  church  and  the 
induction  of  its  ministers  is  one  of  the  memorial  points  of 
American  ecclesiastical  history. 

On  the  30th  day  of  May  of  this  same  year,  1629,  sailed 
out  of  Plymouth  in  England,  another  vessel  bringing  "many 
godly  families,"  among  them  some  men  to  be  afterward 
known  in  the  annals  of  Connecticut, — as  Mr.  Ludlow,  Capt. 
John  Mason,  and  the  Rev.  John  Warham.  This  company  of 
godly  people  having  "  resolved  to  live  together,"  took  the  pre- 
caution to  confederate  themselves  into  religious  fellowship 
before  sailing  from  England.  "  So  they  kept  a  solemn  day  of 
fasting  in  the  new  hospital  at  Plymouth,  spending  it  in  preach- 
ing and  praying  ;  when  that  worthy  man  of  God,  Mr.  John 
White  of  Dorchester,  in  Dorset,  was  present,  and  preached 
unto  (them)  the  word  of  God  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  ;  and 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  day  as  the  people  did  solemnly  make 
choice  of  and  call  those  godly  ministers  to  be  their  officers; 
so  also  the  Rev.  Mr.  Warham  and  Mr.  Maverick  did  accept 
thereof,  and  expressed  the  same.  So  (they)  came,  by  the 
good  hand  of  the  Lord,  through  the  deeps  comfortably,  hav- 
ing preaching  or  expounding  of  the  word  of  God  every  day 
for  ten  weeks  together  by  (their)  ministers."  " 


'^  Higginson  and  Skelton's  Agreement,  Young's  Mass.,  p.  211. 
18  Roger  Clap's  Diary,  Young's  Mass.,  p.  347-8. 


1554-1633-]  HOW   IT  CAME   TO   BE.  I7 

This  "godly  company"  first  settled  at  what  was  called 
Blackstone's-Neck,  soon  changed  to  Dorchester,  and  in  1626 
removed  with  their  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Warham,  to  Windsor 
in  Connecticut,  becoming  the  nearest  neighbor  on  the 
north  of  the  First  Church  of  Hartford. 

On  August  26th,  of  the  same  eventful  year,  1629,  twelve 
gentlemen  of  eminence  met  at  Cambridge  in  England  and 
pledged  themselves  to  embark  with  their  families  for  the  New 
Colony.  They  were  led  by  John  Winthrop.  They  sailed 
from  England  on  the  7th  of  April,  1630,  and  reached  Salem 
on  the  1 2th  of  June.  More  than  a  thousand  passengers  fol- 
lowed before  winter.  A  chief  part  of  the  new  company  pres- 
ently sought  a  better  place  of  settlement  than  Salem,  and 
fixecl,  awhile,  upon  Charlestown. 

On  a  day  specifically  set  apart  for  the  purpose,  July  27, 
1630,  "the  Congregation  kept  a  fast,  and  chose  Mr.  Wilson 
(our)  teacher,  and  Mr.  Nowell  an  elder,  and  Mr.  Gager, 
and  Mr.  Aspinwall  deacons.  We  used  imposition  of  hands 
but  with  the  protestation  by  all,  that  it  was  only  as  a  sign 
of  election  and  confirmation,  not  of  any  intent  that  Mr. 
Wilson  should  renounce  his  ministry  he  received  in  Eng- 
land."" 

Soon  after,  finding  the  situation  at  Charlestown  insalu- 
brious because  of  bad  water  supply,  the  larger  portion  of  the 
people  went  across  the  river,  and  the  church  became  what  is 
now  known  as  the  First  Church  in  Boston. 

Sometime  in  1632  a  considerable  number  of  people,  mostly 
from  the  County  of  Essex,  and  from  the  vicinity  of  the  towns 
of  Braintree,  Colchester,  and  Chelmsford,  arrived  in  New 
England,  and  began  "to  sit  down  at  Mount  Wallaston,"  in 
the  township  now  known  as  Quincy.     These  were  by  "order 


'"  Winthrop's  Journal,  i,  36-38. 
3 


l8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1554-1633. 

of  Court,  removed  to  Newtown"  under  the  date  in  Win- 
throp's  Journal  of  August  14,  1632.  The  Governor  in  record- 
ing the  events  at  the  time,  calls  them  by  the  double  appella- 
tion of  "  The  Braintree  company,"  and  "  Mr.  Hooker's  com- 
pany." "  Mr.  Hooker  was  then  in  Holland,  and  did  not 
arrive  for  more  than  a  year  afterward.  It  would  appear, 
therefore,  that  the  company  set  down  at  Mt.  Wallaston  were 
from  the  time  of  their  arrival  known  as  a  special  companion- 
ship, and  as  having  recognized  relationship  of  expectancy  to 
a  minister  not  yet  with  them. 

These  facts  lend  credibility  to  the  statements  of  Mather 
and  Holmes,  which  substantially  agree  in  the  representation 
given  by  the  latter  as  follows  : — "The  recent  settlers  of  New- 
town had  while  in  England  attended  the  ministry  of  the  Rev- 
erend Thomas  Hooker,  who  to  escape  fines  and  imprisonment 
for  his  non-conformity,  had  now  fled  into  Holland.  To  enjoy 
the  privilege  of  such  a  pastor  they  were  willing  to  emigrate 
to  any  part  of  the  world.  No  sooner,  therefore,  was  he  driven 
from  there  than  they  turned  their  eyes  toward  New  England. 
They  hoped  that  if  comfortable  settlements  could  be  made  in 
this  part  of  America,  they  might  obtain  him  for  their  pastor. 
Immediately  after  their  settlement  at  Newtown  "  —  Mather 
indicates,  what  was  doubtless  the  fact,  that  negotiations 
begun  before  they  left  England  —  "they  expressed  their 
earnest  desires  to  Mr.  Hooker  that  he  would  come  over 
into  New  England  and  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  them.  At 
their  desire  he  left  Holland,  and  having  obtained  Mr.  Samuel 
Stone,  a  lecturer  at  Towcester,  in  Northamptonshire,  as  an 
assistant  in  the  ministry,  took  his  passage  for  America,  and 
arrived  at  Boston  September  4,  1633."  " 

This  brings  the  story  back  to  the  fact  with  which  it  com- 


"*  Winthrop,  pp.  104,  105. 
19  Coll.  Mass.  Hist.  Soc,  vii,  i: 


r554-i633-]  HOW   IT  CAME   TO   BE.  jg 

menced.  There  will  be  ample  occasion  hereafter  to  trace 
what  can  be  ascertained  of  the  histories  of  Hooker  and  Stone 
up  to  this  point  of  their  debarkation  from  the  Griffin  ;  as 
well  as  the  nature  of  that  ministerial  relationship  to  the 
"company"  called  by  Mr.  Hooker's  name.  At  present  it 
suffices  to  rehearse  the  tradition  that  when  Hooker  met  his 
waiting  people  at  Newtown,  it  was  with  the  apostolic  saluta- 
tion:    '*Noiv  I  live  if  ye  standfast  in  the  LordJ' 


CHAPTER    II 


THOMAS  HOOKER  IN  ENGLAND  AND  HOLLAND. 

Thomas  Hooker  was  born  at  the  hamlet  of  Marfield'  in 
the  County  of  Leicester,  England,  sometime,  it  is  believed, 
in  the  year  1586.  This  little  hamlet  of  Marfield  is  one  of 
four  tithings  or  towns  which  together  make  up  the  parish  of 
Tilton,  or  "  Tilt 011  ou  the  Hill,"^  as  it  was  generally  known  ; 
the  other  three  being  Tilton,  Halstead,  and  Whatborough. 
These  four  townships  have  for  their  common  place  of  wor- 
ship the  noble  old  church  of  St.  Peter's,  built  sometime  in 
the  twelfth  century  on  the  corner  of  the  Tilton  precinct,  and 
commanding  a  wide  view  over  one  of  the  most  beautiful  por- 
tions of  midland  England.^  The  parish  of  Tilton  belonged 
to  the  Priory  of  Laund  till  the  time  of  the  suppression  of 
the  monastic  establishments  by  Henry  VIII,  when  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  church  was  bestowed  by  the  King  on  Thomas 


'  The  name  is  variously  spelled  in  the  records  of  Leicester,  Mardifeud,  Mer- 
defeud,  Mardefelde,  Markfelde,  Markfield,  Marfield ;  the  last  being  the  name  it 
bears  at  present  in  the  current  use  of  dwellers  there,  and  in  the  public  directo- 
ries of  the  county.  The  place  is  in  the  Hundred  of  Goscote.  Another  Mark- 
field,  in  the  Hundred  of  Sparkenhoe,  in  the  same  county,  some  eighteen  miles 
away,  has  been  the  occasion  of  confusion  to  enquirers  for  the  birth  place  of 
Thomas  Hooker. 

2  "  Tilton  safer  montem "  is  the  designation  often  appearing  in  the  old 
records. 

^  The  word  "  steeple-chase  "  is  said  to  be  of  Leicester  county  origin,  and  to 
have  been  derived  from  the  many  spires  surmounting  the  hill  tops  of  this 
county,  visible  on  every  side,  toward  some  one  of  which,  in  default  of  game,  the 
disappointed  hunters  directed  their  chase;  the  first  to  gain  which  was  accoun- 
ted victor,  as  if  he  had  been  "  in  at  the  death  "  of  the  fox  or  deer.  From  Tilton 
church  many  such  steeple-tops  can  be  counted. 


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1586-1633-]  THOMAS    HOOKER   IN   ENGLAND.  21 

Cromwell.  One  wonders  to  see  so  beautiful  and  costly  an 
edifice,  with  its  embattled  tower  containing  its  peal  of  four 
bells/  and  lofty  spire,  pierced  by  eight  open  windows,  in  so 
quiet  and  rural  a  spot.  All  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish 
would  not  half  fill  it.  Nor,  however,  it  might  possibly 
have  been  at  the  period  of  its  erection,  was  it  probably  any 
otherwise  at  the  time  of  Thomas  Hooker's  birth.  Twenty-two 
years  before  he  was  born,  the  little  hamlet  of  Marfield  con- 
tained six  families.  It  now  contains  five.^  The  visitor  to-day 
sees  all  things  substantially  the  same  as  they  were  then.  The 
grand  old  church  of  grey  stone  on  the  hill-top,  surrounded  by 
the  graves  of  the  rude  forefathers  of  the  various  hamlets,  each 
buried  in  the  special  quarter  of  the  "acre"  appropriated  to 
his  own  of  the  four  precincts  of  the  parish  ;  the  wide-stretch- 
ing prospect  of  wooded  landscape,  and  open  fields  and  spire- 
topped  hills  toward  every  compass  point ;  the  small,  thatch- 
covered  village  of  Tilton  hanging  round  the  crown  of  the 
hill,"  and  the  little  hamlet  of  Marfield,  embowered  in  trees 
down  in  a  valley  northward  about  a  mile  and  a  half  away  — 
the  whole  spectacle  is  probably  not  appreciably  altered  since 
Thomas  Hooker  looked  upon  it  as  a  boy. 

The  father  of  Thomas,  himself  of  the  same  name,  lived 
in  Marfield  before  him,  having,  there  appears  to  be  evidence. 


*  The  bells  are  ancient.  One  bears  the  inscription  Praise  the  Lord;  the  other 
three  the  following:  /.  H.  S.  Nazarenus  .  Rex  .  Tvdeorvm  .  Fili .  Dei.  Misere. 
Mei. 

^  In  1654,  according  to  Parliamentary  returns,  Tilton  had  twenty-eight  fami- 
lies ;  Halsted,  sixteen ;  Markfield,  six  ;  and  Whatborough,  one.  In  August 
1S82  there  were  five  houses  standing  at  Marfield;  the  ruins  of  one  other,  with 
some  old  carved  oaken  beams,  being  discoverable.  The  Wars  of  the  Roses  did 
much  to  depopulate  England  two  centuries  before  the  period  of  the  Parliament- 
ary return  above  referred  to :  but  the  wonder  still  remains  in  many  parts  of  the 
country  how  such  churches  could  have  been  built  amid  so  sparse  a  population 
as  at  any  time  lived  on  the  soil. 

•»  The  little  tile-roofed  Inn — the  "Rose  and  Croion"  —  was  once  occupied 
by  Cromwell,  while  his  soldiers  barracked  in  the  church  close  by. 


22  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

been  brought  here  from  Blaston  in  the  same  county,  by- 
reason  of  his  connection  in  some  capacity  with  the  Digby 
family  who  were  large  landed  proprietors  in  the  parish,  and 
who  was  a  son  of  "  Kenellyme  "  Hooker,  obviously  named  for 
some  Digby,  in  which  family  Kenelm  was  a  frequent  name. 

The  records  of  Tilton  parish  previous  to  1610  having 
perished,  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  the  date  of  our  Thomas 
Hooker's  birth  or  baptism.  All  that  they  furnish  is  the 
dates  of  the  burial  of  his  father  and  mother  and  of  his  elder 
and  only  brother,  with  whose  death  the  family  name  entirely 
disappears  from  Tilton  and  Marfield  history.'  The  Hooker 
family  at  this  date  seems  to  have  been  a  family  of  some  note, 
as  the  parish  register  and  the  records  of  the  court  of  admin- 
istration speak  of  the  father  and  brother  respectively,  as 
•'Mr.  Hooker,"  and  "John  Hooker,  Gentleman ; "  designa- 
tions which  at  that  date  were  given  only  to  persons  of  some 
social  standing. 

Of  the  family  influences  which  surrounded  young  Hooker 
in  his  boyhood  there  can  be  formed  only  a  general  impression. 


■^  The  Tilton  parish  records  (examined  by  the  writer  in  August,  18S2)  have 
the  following  entries,  under  their  respective  dates:  April,  1631,  "  Mrs.  Hooker, 
wife  to  Mr.  Hooker  of  Marefield  was  buryed ; "  July  24,  1635,  "Thomas 
Hooker  of  Marefield  was  burried  ; "  January  25,  1654,  "Mr.  John  Hooker  of 
Marfield  were  burryed."  John  Hooker's  will  dated  January  i,  1654-5,  proved 
at  London,  November  26,  1655,  as  the  will  of  "John  Hooker  of  Marfield,  Co. 
Leicester,  Gentleman,"  bequeaths  to  his  "  cousin  Samuel  Hooker,  student  in 
New  England,  ;!{^ioo;"  and  to  his  "cousin  John  Hooker,  student  at  Oxford, 
;[f  200."  These  were  obviously  the  children  of  Thomas  his  brother,  then  dead 
in  Hartford,  the  first  named  of  whom  was  then  about  to  graduate  at  Harvard, 
and  soon  to  be  (in  1661)  minister  at  Farmington  ;  the  other  was  Thomas 
Hooker's  oldest  son,  John  ;  of  whom  his  dying  father  said  in  his  will,  July  7, 
1647,  "However  I  doe  not  forbid  my  Sonne  John  from  seeking  and  taking  a 
wife  in  England,  yet  I  doe  forbid  him  from  marrying  and  tarrying  there."  The 
young  man,  however,  did  "  marry  and  tarry  "  there,  and  became  a  minister  of 
the  established  church,  rector  of  Lechamposted  in  Bucks,  dying  in  1684.  The 
designation  "  cousin  "  used  by  the  uncle  in  his  reference  to  his  nephews  was 
not  unfrequent  as  applied  alike  to  nephews  and  nieces  at  that  time.  "Tybalt 
my  cousin,  O  my  brother's  child."     Romeo  and  yuliet^'m,  i. 


1586-1633-]  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN   ENGLAND.  23 

Who  his  mother  was  is  unknown.  Little  more  is  ascertaina- 
ble than  that  she  lived  to  see  her  son  become  a  preacher 
famous  enough  to  attract  crowds  to  the  great  church  at 
Leicester,  the  county-town  twelve  miles  away ;  to  be  the 
object  of  special  hatred  by  archbishop  Laud,  and  of  banish- 
ment from  the  kingdom.  It  is  known  also  that  besides  the 
two  sons,  John  and  Thomas,  she  had  also  four  daughters,"* 
one  of  whom  married  a  "  revolutionist  by  the  name  of 
Pymm  "  in  Cromwell's  day  ;  and  another  who  married  George 
Alcock  afterward  deacon  of  the  church  in  Dorchester  and 
subsequently  of  Roxbury,  and  who  laid  her  bones  in  Ameri- 
can soil  before  her  mother  died,  and  before  her  brother  was 
exiled.^ 

The  family  life  may  have  been  comfortable  and  happy  in 
the  little  Marfield  home  ;  but  it  must  have  been  compar- 
atively narrow  and  limited.  The  chief  points  of  interest  then 
as  now,  outside  the  concerns  of  home  and  the  labors  by 
which  home  wants  are  provided  for,  must  have  been  found 
in  the  church.  The  most  prominent  object  which  lifted 
itself  before  the  young  boy's  eye,  and  containing  many 
things  suited  to  inspire  even  a  duller  imagination  than  his 
certainly  was,  it  is  not  mere  fancy  to  conjecture  him  some- 
times going  thither,  even  at  other  than  times  of  service,  to 
look  at  matters  which  spoke  of  wider  interests  than  Mar- 
field's  grain- crops  or  family-tales. 

There  was  the  quaint  octagonal  font,  of  ancient  manufac- 


**  Frances,  married  Tarleton  of  London,  mentioned  in  the  will  of  her  brother 
John ;  Dorothy,  married  John  Chester  of  Blaby,  Co.  Leicester ;  and  Mrs. 
Pymm  and  Mrs.  Alcock. 

^"So  not  caring  to  consult  further  for  that  time,  they  who  had  health  to  labor 
fell  to  building,  wherein  many  were  interrupted  with  sickness,  and  many  died 
weekley,  yea,  almost  daily.  Amongst  whom  were  .  .  .  Mrs.  Alcock,  a  sister 
of  Mr.  Hookers."  Dudley'' s  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln  cencerning  events 
of  1630.      Young's  Mass.,  p.  314. 


24  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

ture,  at  which  had  been  baptized  the  generations  of  Tilton's 
parishioners  by  tonsured  priests  way  back  from  near  the  days 
of  Conquest.  There  were  the  monumental  efifigies  of  "Jehan 
de  Digbie,"  and  his  wife  ;  he,  a  Crusader,  lying  cross-legged 
and  hand  on  his  half-drawn  sword,  at  his  feet  a  lion  ;  who 
died  in  1269,  and  whose  stone-likeness  was  laid  here  not 
long  after,  with  the  inscription  asking  prayers ; '"  she,  full- 
robed,  large-molded,  lying  by  his  side,  a  lap-dog  at  her  feet. 
There,  too,  was  another  of  the  same  family  of  a  later  gener- 
ation, great-grandfather  of  a  boy  six  years  older  than  Thomas 
Hooker  was,  (which  boy,  Thomas  might  sometimes  have 
seen  at  Tilton  where  so  much  of  the  family  property  lay,) 
great-grandfather,  that  is  to  say,  of  Sir  Everard  Digby  of 
the  gunpowder  plot,  executed  at  St.  Paul's  church-yard  in 
1605-6.  This  old  ancestor  of  the  youth  who  was  to  attain  so 
sinister  an  eminence  lay  there  in  coat  of  mail,  hands  on  his 
breast,  a  Jlenr  de  lis  on  his  shield  ;  having  just  before  his 
death  executed  his  will :  "  I  bequeathe  my  soule  to  God  all 
myghty,  our  blessed  lady  Seynt  Mary  and  all  the  Seynts  of 
heven ;  my  boddie  to  be  buryed  in  the  parishe  church  of 
Seynt  Peter  at  Tilton,  before  the  Ymage  of  the  blessed 
Trinitie  att  our  Lady  authur." 

Other  monuments  and  escutcheons  beside,  there  were, 
also,  to  waken  enquiry  and  to  freshen  fireside-legend  and 
romantic  tale. 

Who  the  Vicar  of  the  parish  was  in  Hooker's  boyhood  is 
probably  learned  only  from  a  broken  brass  tablet  in  the 
church  at  Knossington,  recording  the  burial  place  of  "  Thomas 
Bayle  .  .  .  sometime  rector  of  Tilton;"  who,  because  it  is 
known  who  came  before  and  after  him,  may  with  consider- 
able likelihood  be  believed  to  have  been  the  minister  by  whom 


"5  "Jehan  de  Digbie,  gest  icy  ;  praies  pur  lui." 


1586-1633.]  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN   ENGLAND.  25 

he  was  baptized.  Vicar  Bayle  was  succeeded  by  Christopher 
Denne.  Little  is  known  of  him,  except  that  he  was  there 
in  1 6 10,  and  was  probably  a  youngerly  man  as  he  had  child- 
ren christened  between  then  and  161 3,  as  shown  by  the 
parish  records. 

But  concerning  another  minister  of  the  parish,  in  Hooker's 
early  manhood  and  several  years  before  his  brother's  burial 
in  the  Marfield  grave-plot,  there  is  quite  definite  intelligence. 
It  is  a  sort  of  intelligence  moreover  which  sheds  a  good  deal 
of  light,  not  only  on  the  religious  condition  of  that  parish, 
but  on  that  of  the  important  county  of  Leicester,  and  the 
country  generally. 

In  the  Minute-books  of  the  Parliamentary  Committee  of 
Sequestration  in  the  Bodleian  Library  it  is  recorded,  under 
date  of  1645-6,  that  "Thomas  Silverwood  minister  to  the 
Assembly  is  referred  to  the  church  of  Tilton."  An  entry 
of  a  later  date,  1647,  explains  matters  :  "Whereas  the  Vicar- 
age of  the  Parish  of  Tilton  in  the  County  of  Leicester  is, 
and  standeth,  sequestered  by  the  Committee  of  Parliament 
from  Dr.  Manwaring  "  for  his  delinquency,  it  is  ordered  that 
the  said  Vicarage  shall  stand  and  be  sequestrated  to  the  use 
henceforth  of  Thomas  Silverwood  a  godly  and  orthodox 
divine,  and  appointed  to  officiate  said  cure,  by  the  said  Com- 
mittee of  Parliament."  The  nature  of  Dr.  Manwaring's 
"  delinquency "  appears  from  the  report  of  Parliamentary 
Survey  of  the  churches  in  Leicester  County,  on  which  the 
action  of  the  Parliament  in  "  sequestrating "  one  minister 
"  from  "  and  another  "to  "  the  livings  of  the  various  Leicester 
parishes  is  based. 

That  report  divides  the  Leicester  County  ministers  into 


"John  Manwaring,  S.  T.  P.,  Prebendary  of  Weeford ;  installed  i   Oct.  1640, 
and  Vicar  of  Tilton.     LeNeve,  Fasti  Ecclesiae. 
4 


26  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       L' 580-1633. 

"  three  sorts  : "  first,  "  Preachers,"  of  whom  there  were  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  ;  second,  "  No  Preachers," — by  which 
is  meant  not  parishes  destitute  of  ministers,  but  "  no  preach- 
ing and  dumb  ministers,"  as  those  who  either  could  or  would 
only  conduct  service  by  the  use  of  a  liturgy  were  called — 
and  of  these  there  were  seventy-six  ;  third,  "  scandalous  of 
both  the  former  sorts,  and  they  are  32." 

The  report  further  divides  the  first  mentioned  "sort"  of 
ministers  in  Leicester,  viz.,  "  Preachers,"  into  four  classes  : 
"Sufficient,  102;  weak  and  unprofitable,  25;  careless  and 
negligent,  20  ;  corrupt  and  unsound,  6." 

The  particular  incumbent  of  the  Tilton  Vicarage  was  set 
down  as  "  no  preacher,  and  a  pluralitan."  From  which  the 
inference  is  that  the  Tilton  Vicar  was  an  anti-Puritan  or 
perhaps  high  prelatical  man,  who  insisted  on  confining  him- 
self to  the  liturgy  of  the  church  and  declined  to  preach,  and 
that  he  held  some  other  living  beside  that  of  Tilton,  also. 
That  he  was  "  Dr."  Manwaring "  seems  to  imply  that  his 
"no  preaching"  depended  rather  upon  his  will  than  upon  his 
ability,  differing  in  this  respect  from  a  great  many  of  the 
clergy  of  the  day,  who  were  too  ignorant  to  write  a  sermon. 

By  some  influence  or  other,  however,  whether  from  his 
father,  mother.  Vicar  Bayle,  Denne,  or  any  beside,  young 
Hooker  was  put,  at  about  thirteen  or  fourteen  years  of  age 
probably,  on  getting  an  education. 

There  can  be  no  considerable  doubt  that  the  place  of  this 
training   preparatory    to    the   university   was    the   school  at 


'■-  Was  this  Dr.  John  Manwaring  a  relative  of  that  Dr.  Roger  Manwaring 
chaplain  to  the  King  and  afterward  Bishop  of  St.  Davis,  whose  sermons  on 
the  kingly  prerogative  threw  the  House  of  Commons  into  a  ferment  in  1627-8, 
and  for  which  he  apologized  on  his  knees  in  June,  1628,  before  the  House  ? 
This  prelatical  but  apologizing  Dr.  Manwaring  was  obviously  a  "  preacher,"  but 
preached  on  what  the  Commons  thought  the  wrong  side. 


1586-1633I  THOMAS    HOOKER   IN    ENGLAND.  2/ 

Market  Bosworth,  established  by  Sir  Wolstan  Dixie,  a 
wealthy  Londoner  having  landed  property  at  that  place  ;  and 
which  was  founded  in  1586,  the  same  year  Hooker  was  born/' 
Market  Bosworth  lies  about  twenty-five  miles  distant  from 
Marfield  to  the  westward  and  close  to  the  celebrated  Bos- 
worth-field  where  Henry,  Earl  of  Richmond,  defeated  and 
killed  Richard  HI.''  The  rector  of  the  Parish  in  which 
the  school  was  situated  and  who  was  also  one  of  the  first 
appointed  board  of  its  "  governors,"  was  Rev.  William  Pel- 
sant,  B.  D/'  His  was  undoubtedly  the  ministry,  on  the  public 
exercises  of  which  young  Hooker  attended  during  the  three 
or  four  years  of  his  membership  in  Market  Bosworth  school.'* 
What  influence  upon  the  boys,  if  any,  these  ministrations  at 
Bosworth  had,  or  what  indeed  was  their  quality  in  reference 
to  the  great  Puritan  and  anti-Puritan  conflict  then  in  prog- 
ress, there  seems  to  be  no  means  of  determining." 

It  was  probably  while  Hooker  was  at  this  school,  about  a 
year  before  his  going  to  the  university,  that  the  great  and 


'3  Hooker  afterwards  had  one  of  the  two  Fellowships  at  Emmanuel  college 
founded  by  Sir  Wolstan  Dixie,  the  conditions  of  which  demand  that  the  incum- 
bent be  either  a  relation  of  the  founder  or  a  graduate  of  Market  Bosworth 
school.  See  statutes  of  Emmanuel  coUe,^e,  and  year  books  of  the  university. 
Burton  says,  quoted  in  NichoVs  Leicester :  "  Sir  Wolstan  Dixie,  knight,  a  wealthy 
citizen  and  mayor  of  London,  built  here  [Market  Bosworth]  in  1 586,  a  fair,  free- 
school  of  Ashler  Stone,  for  Grammar  scholars,  and  endowed  it  with  ;i^20  lands 
by  the  year,  and  a  very  fair  house  of  the  same  stone." 

'*  The  year  of  founding  the  school  was  marked  by  the  discovery  of  a  great 
quantity  of  the  relics  of  that  fatal  battle  fought  just  one  hundred  and  one  years 
previously. 

^5 Mr.  Pelsant  died  in  1634,  having  been  rector  of  Market  Bosworth  "above 
50  years."  He  was  also  Prebendary  of  Lincoln,  stall  of  Liddington,  inducted 
March  19, 1588-9.   Le  Neve,  Fasti Ecdesiae,  and  NichoVs  Leicester,  vol.  i,  part  i. 

IS  This  school  at  Market  Bosworth  is  the  one  of  which,  in  1732,  Samuel  John- 
son was  sometime  usher,  and  where  for  some  reason,  outward  or  inward,  he 
seems  to  have  had  a  very  uncomfortable  time. 

^"^  Sir  W.  Dixie's  own  position  on  these  matters,  as  indicated  by  his  relations 
to  Emmanuel  College,  would  imply  that  he  at  least  was  in  sympathy  with  the 
Puritan  cause,  and  that  the  school  influence  would  be  on  that  side. 


28  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

termagant  Queen  Elizabeth  died,  and  the  uncouth  and  polemic 
James  succeeded  to  the  monarchy. 

Echoes  of  the  stirring  events  connected  with  these  public 
matters,  must  doubtless  have  reached  Market  Bosworth, 
and  have  been  the  subject  of  frequent  converse  among  the 
bright  boys  there  gathered.  The  story  of  the  monarch's 
progress  to  London  from  Scotland,  when  the  head.s  of  Cam- 
bridge University  colleges  went  out  to  Hinchinbrook  to 
meet  him  in  their  robes  of  office,  and  to  tender  him  their  alle- 
giance, must  have  been  well  known  at  Bosworth  ;  as  also  the 
presentation  to  him  of  the  millenary  petition  for  church 
reform,  hitherto  spoken  of ;  '*  and  the  badgering  of  the  Puri- 
tan ministers  at  Hampton  Court ;  and  many  another  tale  of 
King,  Prelate,  or  Puritan,  of  that  eventful  year. 

But  all  these  lively  impressions  of  a  great  world  around, 
and  of  great  occurrences  impending,  must  have  been  intensi- 
fied when  Hooker  left  the  grammar  school  for  the  university. 
He  was  now  about"  eighteen  years  of  age,  an  eager  and 
impressionable  time  in  the  life  of  a  young  man  of  brains,  and 
the  Cambridge  to  which  he  went  was  the  best  place  then  in 
all  England  to  stimulate  and  inspire  to  earnest  though tful- 
ness.  Cotton  Mather  says,'"  Hooker's  parents  "were  neither 
unable  or  unwilling  to  bestow  upon  him  a  liberal  education;" 
which  may  be  in  part,  at  least,  true,  but  he  was  matriculated 
Sizar  of  Queen's  College*"  on  the  27th  of  March,  1603-4,  the 
title  signifying  a  certain  inferiority  of  pecuniary  resources. 
He  was,  however,  before  long,  at  some  unascertainable  date 
transferred  from  Queen's  College  to  Emmanuel,  at  which  he 


'^  Ante,  p.  10. 

'3  Magnalia,  vol.  i,  p.  303.     Hartford  ed.,  1820. 

•20  ^^_  records  of  Queen's  College,  aud  letters  of  the  librarians  of  that  institu- 
tution  and  of  Emmanuel.  .  "  Siz.irs  formerly  waited  on  other  students  at  table." 
Huber's  English  Universities,  vol.  ii,  202. 


1 586-1633]  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN   ENGLAND.  29 

took  his  degree  of  A.  B.  in  January,  1607-8,  and  A.  M.  in 
161 1.  "  He  does  not,  however,  appear  to  have  been  regu- 
larly admitted  at  this  college  except  as  a  Fellow  on  Sir  Wol- 
staii  Dixie's  foundation." ''' 

Here,  then,  at  Cambridge  as  a  student  for  certainly  seven 
years,  and  as  a  Fellow  resident  it  seems  probable  some  years 
more,  Thomas  Hooker  was,  during  the  period  from  eigh- 
teen to  perhaps  twenty-eight  or  thirty,  or  even  thirty-two  years 
of  age,  in.  the  focus  of  Puritanism,  and  in  the  midst  of  some 
of  the  most  considerable  actors  in  the  great  events  of  the 
time. 

The  university  with  which  he  was  connected,  the  particu- 
lar college  with  which  he  was  identified,  the  associates  of  his 
studies,  the  very  atmosphere  of  the  town,  all  conspired  to 
bring  a  pressure  to  bear  on  every  plastic  soul  which  must 
have  stamped  indelible  impressions,  and  given  shape  and 
determination  to  character. 

Cambridge  University  was  representatively  Puritan, 
strongly  Calvinistic,  and  to  some  extent  Presbyterian. 
Thomas  Cartwright,  thirty  years  before  had  preached  and 
taught  in  the  university  the  ecclesiastical  polity  of  Geneva, 
and  though  he  had  been  silenced  and  exiled,  his  leaven  still 
wrought.  The  Calvinism  of  Cambridge  was  of  the  most  pro- 
nounced description.  The  famous  preacher,  Rev.  William  Per- 
kins, who  influenced  the  moral  and  intellectual  convictions  of 
so  many  of  the  students  of  the  university,  molding  them  to  the 
view  of  religious  truth  set  forth  by  the  Genevan  divine,  died 
just  as  Hooker  entered  the  college.-^  But  Rev.  John  Preston, 


^'  Ms.  letter  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Pearson,  Librarian  Emmanuel  College,  Nov.  i, 
1882. 

22  William  Perkins,  b.  155S,  d.  1602-3.  ^^^  ^^  ^"^  instance  of  his  influence, 
S.    Clarke's   life   of  Blackerby.     ^^  Lives   of  thirty-livo   English   Divi7ies,"  ^\). 


30  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

Perkins'  disciple  and  spiritual  successor,  was  in  the  vigor  of  his 
powers,  preaching  the  same  stalwart  doctrine,  and  winning 
noble  souls  to  its  embrace. ^^  The  tone  of  things  in  the  uni- 
versity in  this  respect  is  well  illustrated  in  the  Lambeth  Articles 
—  beyond  comparison  the  most  vigorous  Calvinistic  sym- 
bol ever  published  as  representing  a  phase  of  English  faith — 
which  was  drawn  by  Dr.  Whitaker,^^  and  promulgated  by  the 
authority  of  the  heads  of  the  university,  and  archbishop 
Whitgift ;  and  which  the  scholars  of  the  university  "were 
strictly  enjoined  to  conform  their  judgments  unto,  and  not  to 
vary  from." 

But  more  even  than  the  university  generally,  the  particular 
college  with  which  Hooker  was  identified,  was  regarded  as  the 
home  and  "  mere  nursery  "  of  Puritanism. 

This  college  was  established  by  Sir  Walter  Mildmay  in 
1584  in  the  buildings  of  a  dissolved  monastery  of  Black 
Friars,  with  the  consent  and  charter  of  Queen  Elizabeth." 
From  the  first  it  was  reported  to  be  a  college  in  the  special 
interest  of  the  Reformation  party. 

Meeting  Sir  W.  M-ildmay  soon  after  granting  the  charter, 
the  Queen  said  to  him,  "  Sir  Walter,  I  hear  you  have  erected 
a  Puritan  foundation."  He  rephed,  "  No,  madam,  but  I  have 
set  an  acorn,  which,  when  it  become  an  oak,  God  alone 
knows  what  will  be  the  fruit  thereof." 


^^5  John  Preston,  b.  1587,  d.  1628.  Eminent  preacher  and  author,  and  after 
Lawrence  Chaderton,  Master  of  Emmanuel  College;  called  by  Echard,  "the 
most  celebrated  of  the  Puritans."  See  Thomas  Shepard's  reference  to  him  in 
his  autobiography.     Young's  Mass.  Chronicles,  pp.  506-510. 

-*  Wm.  Whitaker,  b.  1547  ;    Master  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  1586;  d. 

1595- 

-"  Sir  W.  Mildmay,  a  prominent  statesman  and  counsellor  of  Elizabeth ; 
employed  in  many  high  trusts,  died  May  31,  1589,  and  was  buried  in  Great  St. 
Bartholomew  in  London.  As  pertinent  to  the  purposes  of  the  present  chroni- 
cle, as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  he  was  one  of  the  Gov- 
ernors of  the  Grammar  School  in  Chelmsford,  and  in  1575  gave  stone  for  com-' 
pleting  the  tower  of  St.  Mary's  Church  there. 


1586-1633-]  THOMAS    HOOKER   IN   ENGLAND.  31 

It  must  be  .confessed  the  fruit  was  largely  of  the  variety 
the  Queen  suspected  and  disliked.  During  the  Common- 
wealth, no  less  than  eleven  Masters  of  other  colleges  in 
Cambridge  were  graduates  of  Emmanuel,  all  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct representatives  of  Puritan  views."^^ 

A  single  but  very  significant  hint  of  the  temper  of  things 
in  Emmanuel  remains  visible  to  this  day.  Alone,  of  all  the 
college  chapels  in  Oxford  or  Cambridge,  its  original  chapel — 
now  indeed  disused  for  this  service,  and  turned  into  the 
library  —  stands  north  and  south,  instead  of  east  and  west.  A 
report  made  to  archbishop  Laud  of  the  condition  of  things 
at  Emmanuel  under  date  of  September  23,  1633,  doubtless 
gives  a  substantially  correct  account  of  matters,  as  they  were 
only  a  short  time  before,  in  Hooker's  college  days.  "In 
Emmanuel  College,"  the  reporter  says,  "  their  chappel  is  not 
consecrate.  At  Surplice  prayers  they  sing  nothing  but  cer- 
tain riming  Psalms  of  their  own  appointment,  instead  of 
y^  Hymmes  between  y«  Lessons,  And  at  Lessons  they  read 
not  after  y^  order  appointed  in  y^  Callender,  but  after  another 
continued  course  of  their  own.  All  Service  is  there  done  and" 
performed  by  the  Minister  alone.  When  they  preach  or  Com- 
monplace they  omit  all  service  after  y^  first  or  second  Lesson 
at  yp  furthest."  ^' 

The  Master  of  Emmanuel  in  Hooker's  time  was  Lawrence 


-'^  Lazarus  Seaman,  Peterhouse  ;  Theop.  Dillingham,  Clare  Hall ;  William 
Dell,  Caius;  Benj.  Whichcote,  Kings ;  Thos.  Horton,  Queen's;  Wm.  Spurs- 
tow,  Catharine  Hall ;  John  Worthington,  Jesus  ;  Anthony  Tuckney,  St.  John ; 
Ralph  Cudworth,  Christ;  John  Sadler,  Magdalen;  Thomas  Hill,  Trinity. 

"Writing  at  a  later  date  Carter,  quoted  in  Cooper's  History  of  Cambridge  Uni- 
versity, says  of  Emmanuel :  "  It  was  generally  considered  as  neither  more  nor 
less  than  a  mere  nursery  of  Puritans.  So  plentifully  stocked  with  them  was  it 
during  the  Great  Rebellion,  that  it  sent  out  colonies  for  filling  almost  half  the 
univer.^ity."  He  adds,  "  But  this  leaven  has  been  happily  purged  out  a  good 
while  since." 

■■''  Cooper's  Annals  of  Caml'ridge,  vol.  iii,  283. 


32  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [15S6-1633. 

Chaderton,  a  "moderate"  and  learned  divine  who  was  one  of 
the  four  ministers  chosen  to  represent  the  Puritan  cause  at 
the  Hampton  Conference ;  at  which  mock  conference  it  is 
reported  that  he  fell  on  his  knees  and  entreated  the  railing 
King,  that  "the  wearing  of  the  Surplis  and  the  vse  of  the 
Crosse  in  Baptisme,  might  not  vrged  vpo  some  honest,  godly, 
and  paineful  ministers  in  some  partes  of  Lancashire!"'''  Chad- 
derton  had  been  chosen  by  Sir  Walter  Mildmay  himself,  as 
the  first  Master  of  the  college  which  he  founded  ;  refusing  to 
go  on  with  the  enterprise  unless  Chaderton  would  consent  to 
take  the  office,  which  sufficiently  indicates  his  standing  on 
the  Puritan  question  from  the  outset. 

And  though  he  is  spoken  of  as  "moderate"  he  had  fire 
enough  in  his  bones  to  resign  the  mastership  in  favor  of  John 
Preston  in  1622,  when  he  was  eighty-six  years  of  age,  "fear- 
ing that  otherwise  an  Arminian  successor  might  be  chosen. "^^ 
Indeed  the  strenuousness  of  Emmanuel's  Puritanism  passed 
into  proverb.^" 


2'*  W.  Barlow.  "  The  Sumine  ajtd  Substance  of  the  Conference  at  Hampton 
Court"  p.  99. 

"^  Chaderton  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  three  years  old.  He  was  one  of 
the  Translators  of  the  King  James'  Bible,  the  section  on  which,  with  his  imme- 
diate associates  he  was  employed,  being  "  from  Chronicles  to  Canticles  inclu- 
sive."    Ackevman's  Caml>>idge,  ii,  237. 

^'' The  doggerel  and  ridiculing  lines  of  the  ballad  of  the  " Mad  J^it7-itan" 
have  all  their  significance  from  the  recognized  character  of  the  college  to  which 
they  refer:  — 

"  In  the  house  of  pure  Emmanuel 
I  had  my  education  ; 
Where,  my  friends  surmise, 
I  dazzled  my  eyes 
With  the  light  of  Revelation. 

Boldly  I  preach, 

Hate  a  cross  and  a  surplice  ; 

Mitres,  copes  and  rochets  ; 

Come  hear  me  pray 

Nine  times  a  day, 

And  fill  your  head  with  crotchets." 

Percy's  English  Ballads. 


1586-1633-1  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN   ENCiLAND.  33 

Those  years  while  Hooter  was  at  the  university  were 
marked  by  some  public  events  which  must  have  been  felt  at 
Cambridge  quite  as  sensibly  as  anywhere.  It  was  in  his 
second  year's  residence,  that  the  plot  to  blow  up  the  King 
and  the  Houses  of  Parliament  in  the  interest  of  the  Catholic 
party,  by  Catesby,  Digby,  Guide  Fawkes  and  others,  was 
discovered  just  in  time  to  have  no  worse  consequences  than 
the  execution  of  the  conspirators.  It  was  just  when  Hooker 
was  taking  his  degree  of  B.  A.,  in  1608,  that  John  Robinson 
and  his  Scrooby  church,  unable  to  find  tolerance  for  Inde- 
pendency in  England,  went  into  exile,  for  conscience's  sake,  " 
to  Holland.  Two  years  later,  James,  the  whilom  Presby- 
terian King  of  Scotland,  forced  Episcopacy  again  into  the 
country  north  of  the  Tweed, 

It  was  just  as  Hooker  was  taking  his  degree  of  M.  A.,  in 
161 1,  that  James   inaugurated   the   protracted  fight  of   the 
Stuart  dynasty  with  the  Commons  of  England,  by  dissolving 
his  first  Parliament.     The  years  following,  to  1620,  saw  the 
clouds    of    civil   and    religious    trouble   steadily   deepening. 
They  beheid  the  scandals  of  Somerset's  elevation,  of  Over- 
bury's  murder,  of  the  sale  of  Peerages  for  absolute  money 
payments,  of   the  dismissal   of    Lord   Coke,  of   the  rise  to 
supremacy   of    the   ignorant    but    dangerous    Buckingham. 
They  saw  the  peremptory  dissolution  of  James'  second  Par- 
liament, the  negotiations  for  the  marriage  of  Prince  Charles 
with    the    Infanta   of    Spain,  the   execution    of   Sir   Walter 
Raleigh,    the    outbreak   in    Europe    of    the    "Thirty    Years 
War  "—  a  struggle  virtually  between  Protestantism  and  Ro- 
manism— and  last,  and  perhaps  least  noticed  of  all,  the  plant- 
ing of  Plymouth  colony  by  religious  exiles  from  England. 
These  things,  and  the  matters  involved  in  them,  could  not 
5 


34  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

have  been  other  than  of  intense'concern  to  the  nearly  three 
thousand  students  of  the  various  colleges  of  the  University. 

But  to  himself,  an  event  which  occurred  apparently  after 
his  reception  of  his  Master's  degree  and  during  his  residence 
as  Dixie  Fellow,  was  to  Hooker  himself,  of  still  greater 
moment.  Whatever  may  hitherto  have  been  his  religious 
convictions  or  feelings,  this  was  the  period  of  his  personal 
spiritual  crisis  and  conversion.  His  perturbations  and  dis- 
tresses of  soul  seem  to  have  been  long  continued  and 
extreme.  It  is  not  without  a  touch  of  pathos  that  it  is 
recorded  that  the  Providential  source  of  relief  to  him  in 
this  time  of  trouble,  was  "Mr.  Ash  the  Sizer,  who  then 
waited  upon  him,"  whose  "  prudent  and  piteous  carriage," 
and  "  discreet  and  proper  compassions "  were  of  "  singular 
help.'"" 

There  seems  to  be  evidence  that  after  the  passing  of  this 
crisis-point  in  Hooker's  spiritual  experience  he  fulfilled  some 
duties  in  the  College  as  a  catechist  and  lecturer.  Mather 
intimates  that  non-conformist  scruples  prevented  his  taking 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  in  Divinity,  for  which  it  would  seem 
that  his  long  residence  at  Emmanuel  certainly  qualified  him. 
It  may  possibly  have  been  so,  but  such  scruples  did  not 
prevent  his  assuming,  at  some  uncertain  date,  but  probably 
about   1620,"  the  "donative"  living  of  Esher  in   Surrey,  a 


^'  Magnalia,  i,  303.  Probably  Rev.  Simeon  Ashe,  a  graduate  of  Emmanuel ; 
a  Puritan  minister  first  settled  in  Staffordshire :  chaplain  to  the  Earl  of  War- 
wick in  the  civil  wars ;  rector  of  St.  Austin  in  London  twenty  years ;  dying  in 
1662.  Calamy  speaks  of  him  as  "  a  man  of  real  sanctity,  and  a  non-conformist 
of  the  old  stamp." 

•"  Mr.  Hooker's  grandson,  Samuel  Shepard,  was  born  October,  1641, — before 
which  time  Hooker  was  to  settle  in  a  parish  and  make  the  acquaintance  of  his 
wife,  and  his  daughter  to  grow  up  and  make  the  acquaintance  of  her  husband. 
It  hardly  seems  likely  that  he  could  have  left  Cambridge  as  the  first  step  in  all 
these  events  much  after  1620. 


I586-I633.]  THOMAS    HOOKEF-i   IN   ENGLAND.  35 

small  place  sixteen  miles  from  Westminster  bridge."^  This 
living  was  certainly  a  scanty  one,  amounting  to  only  ^^40  a 
year.  But  the  patron  of  the  living,  Mr.  Francis  Drake,^^ 
by  whose  appointment  he  was  inducted  into  the  office, 
received  the  new  rector  into  his  house  and  "  gave  him  diet 
and  lodging,"  a  fact  attended  with  important  consequences 
to  Mr.  Hooker. 

The  persuasive  cause  of  the  procuring  of  Mr.  Hooker's 
services  at  Esher  by  Mr.  Drake  was  the  condition  of  Mr. 
Drake's  wife.  The  story  is  told  in  a  little  volume  printed 
the  year  Mr.  Hooker  died.^'  Mrs.  Drake  was  an  invalid  and 
a  hypochondriac.  She  had  already  worn  out  the  consolations 
of  two  worthy  ministers,  Rev.  Mr.  Dod  ^'  of  Canons-Ashby, 
and  Dr.  Usher,  afterwards  archbishop  of  Ireland,  in  their 
attempts  to  persuade  her  she  had  not  committed  the  unpar- 
donable sin.  They  being  obliged  to  leave,  Mr.  Drake  heard 
of  "  Mr.  Hooker,  then  at  Cambridge,  now  in  New  England  : 
a  great  Scholar,  an  acute  Disputant,  a  strong  learned,  a  wise 
modest  man,  every  way  rarely  qualified  :  who  being  a  Non- 
conformist in  judgement,  not  willing  to  trouble  himself  with 


'■**  A  "  donative  "  benefice  is  one  given  by  a  patron  without  the  necessity  of 
"  presentation  "  to  the  bishop,  and  of  induction  by  the  bishop's  order ;  for- 
malities which  a  presentative  benefice  involves.  It  would  appear  that  Mr. 
Hooker's  non-conformity  had  got  so  far  along  as  to  scruple  the  propriety  of 
the  bishop's  authority  in  settling  a  minister  over  a  congregation  ;  and,  of  course, 
far  enough  along  to  constitute  an  effectual  bar  to  his  entrance  on  far  the  greater 
number  of  benefices  in  England. 

^^ Francis  Drake  was  kinsman  of  Sir  Francis  Drake  the  Navigator;  was 
himself  Gentleman  of  the  Bedchamber  to  James  I ;  married  Joanna  Tothill, 
and  died  aged  50  years. 

31 "  Trodde7t  dozun  Strength,  by  the  God  of  Strength,  or  Mrs.  Drake  Revived, 
showing  her  strange  and  rare  Case,  great  and  mattifold  aJfUctions  for  tenne years 
together.     Related  by  her  friend  Hart  On-hi.     i6mo,  London,  1647." 

3^  John  Dod,  known  as  Decalog  Dod,  from  his  Commentary  on  the  Ten 
Commandments;  a  celebrated  Puritan  but  Loyalist  divine,  born  1549;  died 
1645,  ^-  9^-  "  ^y  nature  a  witty,  by  industry  a  learned,  by  grace  a  godly 
di  V  i  ne . " — Fuller. 


36  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

Presentative  Livings,  was  contented  and  persuaded  by 
Mr.  Dod  to  accept  of  tHat  poor  Living  of  40/.  per  annum.  .  . 
This  worthy  man  accepted  of  the  place,  having  withal!  his 
dyet  and  lodging  at  Esher,  Mr.  Drake's  house." 

Mr.  Hooker's  ministrations  seem  to  have  been  useful, 
"  For  Mr.  Hooker,  being  newly  come  from  the  University, 
had  a  new  answering  methode  (though  the  same  things) 
wherewith  shee  was  marvellously  delighted."  It  is  further 
recorded  that  "  by  God's  providence  he  was  married  unto  her 
waiting-woman ;  after  which  both  of  them,  having  lived 
some  time  after  ^"^  with  her,  and  he  cal'd  to  be  Lecturer  at 
Chelmsford  in  Essex,  they  both  left  her." 

It  is  pleasant  to  know  that  Mr.  Hooker's  counsels,  and  those 
of  Mr.  Dod,  which  were  again  renewed,  and  those  of  Mr. 
Witherall,  "a  powerful,  able,  good  man,"  who  succeeded  both, 
did  much  to  help  Mrs.  Drake,  and  that  she  was  "  more  cheer- 
ful in  mind  divers  years,"  though  not  wholly  happy. 

But  the  chief  discoverable  result  to  Mr.  Hooker  himself  of 
this  Esher  experience  was  his  meeting  with  Mrs.  Drake's 
"  waiting-woman,"  Susanna,  and  his  marrying  her.  Who  this 
lady  was,  whose  future  was  to  be  so  unexpected — who  was 
to  be  exiled  to  Holland,  to  voyage  the  Atlantic,  to  be  carried 
on  a  litter  through  the  forests  of  Massachusetts  to  Con- 
necticut, and  to  be  laid  in  some  unknown  spot  in  Hartford's 
burying-ground — there  seems  to  be  no  way  of  determining." 

^''Mr.  Drake's  will,  dated  March  13,  1634,  gave  to  "Johanna  Hooker,  whoe 
is  now  in  New  England,  £'ip  to  be  paid  to  her  the  day  of  her  marriage."  This 
was  Mr.  Hooker's  daughter  who  married  Thomas  Shepard,  and  it  is  conjectured 
that  she  was  Mr.  Hooker's  eldest  child,  was  born  at  Esher,  and  named 
"  Joanna  "  for  Mrs.  Drake. 

'^'  Perhaps  the  only  recorcjed  saying  of  this  good  woman  is  quoted  in  a  letter 
from  her  husband  about  one  of  the  alleged  judgments  which,  in  1637,  befell  a 
near  relative  of  ]30or  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  who  was  "infected  with  her  here- 
sies." Mr.  Hooker  writes :  "  While  I  was  thus  musing,  and  thus  writing,  my 
study  where  I  was  writing,  and  the  chamber  where  my  wife  was  sitting,  shook 


1586-1633]  THOMAS    HOOKER   IN   ENGLAND.  27 

Esher's  proximity  to  London  favored  the  more  ready 
recognition  of  Mr.  Hooker's  abilities,  and  it  appears  that  he 
did  for  a  while,  after  leaving  there,  preach  in  and  about  the 
city.  Some  ineffectual  attempts  were  made  to  secure  his 
settlement  at  Colchester  in  Essex,  "  whereto  Mr.  Hooker  did 
very  much  incline,"  "but  the  Providence  of  God  gave  an 
obstruction"  to  that  arrangement.^' 

But  at  sometime,  it  would  appear  in  1625  or  1626,  an  invi- 
tation was  extended  and  accepted  for  Mr.  Hooker's  establish- 
ment as  Lecturer  in  connection  with  the  Church  of  St. 
Mary's  at  Chelmsford,  Essex  County,  then  under  the  charge  of 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Michaelson,  rector  of  the  parish.  These 
Lectureships  were  an  outgrowth  of  the  Puritan  movement, 
and  were  a  device  to  gain  a  more  efficient  preaching  service 
than  could  often  be  had  from  the  legal  incumbent  of  a  bene- 
fice. They  were  generally  supported  by  voluntary  gifts  of 
wealthy  Puritans,  though  sometimes  endowed  by  permanent 
funds,  ^"  and  were  customarily  held  by  persons  having  scru- 
ples about  the  ceremonies,  and  consequently  not  always  in 
priests'  orders,  who  preached  on  market-days  and  Sunday 
afternoons,  as  supplemental  to  the  regularly  appointed  church 
services. 


as  we  thought  with  an  earthquake,  by  the  space  of  half  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
We  both  perceived  it,  and  presently  went  down.  My  maid  in  the  kitchen 
observed  the  same.  My  wife  said  it  zvas  the  devil  that  was  displeased  that  we 
confer  about  this  occasion."     ATagnalia,  ii,  449. 

*>  Mdgnalia,  i,  304.  Mather  says  Hooker's  desire  to  be  at  Colchester  was 
on  account  of  its  proximity  to  Dedham,  where  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  whom  he  used 
to  call  "  the  prince  of  all  the  preachers  in  England,"  resided  ;  but  "  it  was  an 
observation  Mr.  Hooker  would  sometimes  afterwards  use  to  his  friends  '  that  the 
providence  of  God  often  diverted  him  from  employment  in  such  places  as  he 
himself  desired,  and  still  directed  him  to  such  places  as  he  had  no  thoughts  of.' " 

^■'  Sometimes  also  by  high  ecclesiastical  personages.  As  one  example  of 
many:  Lyman  Patrick,  bishop  of  Ely,  established  a  Sunday  afternoon  Lecture- 
ship at  St.  Clement's  Church  in  Cambridge  in  1591,  allowing  ^^30  a  year  to  the 
Lecturer.  Laurence  Chaderton,  before  he  became  Master  of  Enmianuel,  was 
Lecturer  on  this  foundation. 


38  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

The  device  was  exceedingly  popular  with  the  multitude 
who  were  dissatisfied  with  "  no  preaching  and  dumb  minis- 
ters," and  grew  into  so  large  proportions  as  to  be  the  subject 
of  frequent  notice  and  regulation  by  the  civil  and  religious 
authorities.^"  The  system  was  finally  broken  up  by  Laud 
about  1633,  who  hated  the  Lecturers  and  was  accustomed  to 
denounce  them  as  the  "  most  dangerous  enemies  of  the 
State." 

Chelmsford  is  a  pleasant  town  twenty-nine  miles  east  from 
London.  Its  old  Church  of  St.  Mary's  is  a  venerable  Gothic 
structure  of  great  antiquity.^'  Its  patronage  was  given  or 
sold  by  Henry  VIII  to  Roger  Mildmay,  ancestor  of  Sir 
Walter  Mildmay,  who  founded  Emmanuel  College,  and  in 
1575  gave  stone  for  repairs  of  this  church  ;  and  twenty  gen- 
erations of  Mildmays  sleep  underneath  its  roof.  This  noble 
old  sanctuary  became  for  about  three  years  the  scene  of  Mr. 
Hooker's  public  labors.  And  there  is  ample  evidence  that 
those  ministrations  made  a  profound  and  wide  impression. 
Auditors  flocked  to  his  preaching  from  great  distances,  "  and 
some  of  great  quality  among  the  rest ;"  chief  of  whom  was 
the  Earl  of  Warwick,  who  afterward  sheltered  and  befriended 
his  family,  when  Mr.  Hooker  was  forced  to  flee  the  country. 
His  labors  resulted  not  only  in  the  visible  reformation  of 
morals  in  Chelmsford,  but  in  drawing  together  into  fellow- 
ship in   similar  endeavors  a  great  many  other  ministers  in 


"^^  Neal,  Part  II,  chap,  iv,  for  various  illustrations. 

*'  The  great  tower  and  most  of  the  older  portions  are  built  of  the  flint  boul- 
ders, from  the  size  of  the  fist  upwards,  found  in  the  chalk  pits  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, laid  in  cement.  The  arch  of  the  Norman  door  in  the  great  tower  has 
the  Boar  and  Mullet  of  the  De  Vere  family.  In  1641  the  Parliamentary  visitation 
was  the  occasion  of  a  mob,  by  which  the  beautiful  glass  windows  of  the  edifice 
were  destroyed,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Michaelson,  the  rector,  subjected  to  violent 
personal  indignities  and  injury.  The  roof  of  the  church  fell  in,  in  1800,  and 
the  repair  in  other  stone  has  an  unpleasing  and  incongruous  appearance. 


1586-1633-]  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN   ENGLAND.  og 

the  surrounding  country.  That  the}^  attracted  the  attention 
and  incurred  the  displeasure  of  Laud,  the  bishop  of  his  dio- 
cese, goes  also  without  saying.  How  likely  they  were  to  do 
so  appears  vividly  set  forth  in  a  letter,  under  date  of  May  29, 
1629,  written  by  Samuel  Collins,  vicar  of  Braintree  to  Duck, 
Laud's  chancellor,  and  which  obviously  recognizes  the  com- 
mencement already  of  ecclesiastical  procedures  against  him. 
Collins  says  :  "  Since  my  return  from  London  I  have  spoken 
with  Mr.  Hooker,  but  I  have  small  hope  of  prevailing  with 
him ;  all  the  favor  he  desires  is  that  my  Lord  of  London 
would  not  bring  him  into  the  High  Commission  Court,  but 
permit  him  to  depart  quietly  out  of  the  diocese.  All  men's 
ears  are  now  filled  with  y"  obstreperous  clamours  of  his  fol- 
lowers against  my  Lord  as  a  man  endeavouring  to  suppress 
good  preaching  and  advance  Popery.  ...  If  these 
jealousies  be  increased  by  a  rigorous  proceeding  against  him, 
y^  country  may  prove  very  dangerous.  If  he  be  suspended, 
it  is  the  resolution  of  his  friends  to  settle  his  abode  in  Essex, 
and  maintenance  is  promised  him  in  plentifull  manner  for  the 
fruition  of  his  private  conference,  which  hath  already  more 
impeached  the  peace  of  our  Church,  than  his  publique  ministry. 
His  genius  will  still  haunt  all  the  pulpits  in  y^  country  where 
any  of  his  scholars  may  be  admitted  to  preach.  .  .  There 
be  divers  young  ministers  about  us  that  spend  their  time  in 
conference  with  him,  and  return  home  and  preach  what  he 
hath  brewed.  Our  people's  pallats  grow  so  out  of  tast,  y^ 
noe  food  contents  them  but  of  Mr.  Hooker's  dressing.  I 
have  lived  in  Essex  to  see  many  changes,  and  have  scene  the 
people  idolizing  many  new  ministers  and  lecturers,  but  this 
man  surpasses  them  all  for  learning  and  some  other  consid- 
erable partes,  and  gains  more  and  far  greater  followers  than 
all  before  him.^- 


**  J.  W.  Davids'  Atifia/s  of  Evangelical  N^oncotiformity  in  Essex,  pp.  150,  151. 


40  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [15S6-1633. 

Writing  again  on  the  3d  of  June  following,  Collins  says  : 
"  I  pray  God  direct  my  Lord  of  London  in  this  weighty 
business.  This  will  prove  a  leading  case,  and  the  issue 
thereof  will  either  much  incourage  or  discourage  the  regular 
clergie.  All  men's  tongues,  eyes  and  ears  in  London,  and 
all  the  counties  about  London  are  taken  up  with  plotting, 
talking  and  expecting  what  will  be  the  conclusion  of  Hook- 
er's business.  It  drowns  the  noise  of  the  great  question  of 
Tonnage  and  Poundage."-^  Both  letters  conclude  with  the 
advice  to  let  Mr.  Hooker  get  out  of  the  way  quietly.  Ap- 
parently Mr.  Hooker  had  already  been  to  some  extent  pro- 
ceeded with. 

But  in  November,  1629,"  he  was  still  preaching  at  Chelms- 
ford, for  on  the  13th  of  that  month  a  petition  to  Laud  in 
behalf  of  "  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker  preacher  at  Chelmsford," 
signed  by  fifty-one  Essex  County  ministers,  was  prepared, 
certifying  that  "  we  all  esteeme  and  know  the  said  Mr. 
Thomas  Hooker  to  be  for  doctryne  orthodox,  and  life  and 
conversation  honest,  and  for  his  disposition  peacable,"  and 
entreating  the  "continuance  and  liberty  of  his  paines  there."  ^' 

It  must  have  been  very  shortly  after,  however,  that  he  was 
forced  to  lay  down  his  ministry  there,  which  he  did  in  the 
preaching  of  a  farewell  sermon,  entitled  the  "  Danger  of 
Desertion,"  in  which  he  bewailed  the  signs  of  God's  depart- 
ure from  England,  and  predicted  greater  calamities  to  come. 


'^'^  Ibid,  p.  152.  This  was  doubtless  a  clerical  view  of  the  matter.  But  no 
more  striking  expression  could  have  been  used  to  indicate  the  interest  in  it. 
In  March  previous,  Charles  had  dissolved  his  third  Parliament  on  the 
"  Tonnage  and  Poundage  "  issue,  and  commenced  the  eleven  years'  struggle 
of  personal  government  without  a  Parliament  and  in  defiance  of  law. 

**  On  April  9,  1628,  "Sarah,  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker  and  Susan 
his  wife,"  was  baptized  at  Chelmsford.  And  on  August  26,  1629,  she  was  there 
buried.     Chelmsford  Parish  Register. 

*°  David's  Annals,  p.  153. 


1586-1633-]  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN   HOLLAND.  4I 

Leaving  Chelmsford  he  removed  to  Little  Baddow/"  a 
small  village  four  miles  away,  and  "  at  the  request  of  several 
emminent  persons  kept  a  school  in  his  own  hired  house." 
Here  he  had  in  his  employment,  as  assistant,  John  Eliot,  to 
be  celebrated  afterward  as  the  apostle  to  the  Indians,  and 
who  was  converted  while  living  in  his  family,'"  His  resi- 
dence at  Little  Baddow,  however,  could  not  have  been  long. 
Laud's  vengeance  followed  him. 

At  the  "next  Visitation,"  sometime  in  1630,  "he  was  cited 
to  appear  before  the  High  Commission  Court,  and  because 
he  was  then  sick  they  obliged  him  to  find  sureties  to  be 
bound  in  a  bond  of  ,^^50  for  his  appearance,  but  as  soon  as  he 
was  well,  with  the  consent  of  his  sureties  he  absconded  and 
went  to  Holland,  and  they  paid  the  ;^50  into  the  Court."" 
It  was  well,  doubtless,  that  he  fled.  The  terrible  fate  of 
Alexander  Leighton,  another  nonconformist  minister  who  was 
this  year  pilloried,  whipped,  branded,  slit  in  the  nostrils,  and 
deprived  by  successive  mutilation  of  his  ears,  might  at  least 
in  part  have  been  his.^^  The  officer  arrived  at  the  sea-side 
just  too  late  for  his  arrest. 

The  ship  in  which  he  sailed  ran  aground  on  the  passage, 


***  Mr.  Hooker  had  probably  resided  awhile  at  Great  Baddow  before  perfect- 
ing his  arrangements  as  Lecturer  at  Chelmsford,  for  the  Parish  register  contains 
the  following  entry.  "  Anne,  d;uightcr  of  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker  clerk,  and 
Susan  his  wife,  baptized  at  Great  Baddow,  Essex,  January  5,  1626." 

*'Magitalia,  i,  305.  Eliot  says:  "To  this  place  was  I  called  through  the 
infinite  riches  of  God's  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus  to  my  poor  soul ;  for  here  the 
Lord  said  to  my  dead  soul  live  ;  and  through  the  grace  of  Christ  I  do  live,  and 
shall  live  forever !  When  I  came  to  this  blessed  family,  I  then  saw  and  never 
before,  the  power  of  godliness  in  its  lively  vigor  and  efficacy." 

***The  bond  was  given  by  Mr.  Nash  of  Much  Waltham,  a  tenant  of  the  Earl 
of  Warwick.  The  Earl  meantime  provided  for  Mr.  Hooker's  family  "a  court- 
eous and  private  recess  at  a  place  called  Old  Park."     Magnalia,  i,  307. 

*'•' "  Bishop  Laud  pulled  off  his  cap  while  the  merciless  sentence  [on  Leigh- 
ton]  was  pronouncing,  and  gave  God  thanks  for  it."     Neal,  vol.  i,  p.  302. 
6 


42  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1586-1633. 

and  was  in  "eminent  hazard  of  wrack,"  but  escaped  that 
catastrophe  arriving  safely  in  Holland. 

Arrived  in  Holland,  Mr.  Hooker  was  for  some  uncertain 
period  resident  at  Amsterdam,  and  negotiations  looking  to 
his  association  in  the  pastorate  of  the  British  Presbyterian 
church^"  then,  under  the  charge  of  that  somewhat  "captious 
Puritan,"*'  Rev.  John  Paget,'"  were  begun.  They  were 
broken  off,  however,  Mather  intimates,  by  jealousy  on  Mr. 
Paget's  part.  Mr.  Paget,  however,  says  he  did  not  break 
them  off,  but  that  they  were  terminated  by  the  Classis  and 
the  Synod,  and  that  the  ground  of  their  action  was  Mr. 
Hooker's  views,  mainly  about  the  propriety  of  fellowshiping 
Brownists  and  his  refusing  to  censure  such  as  "  went  to  hear 
Brownists  in  their  Schismatical  Assembly,"'"''  By  some  in- 
fluence or  other  it  appears  that  the  Synod  resolved  "That  a 
person  standing  in  such  opinions  as  were  shown  unto  the 
Classis,  could  not  with  any  edification  be  admitted  at  the 
Ministry  of  the  English  Church  at  Amsterdam."'^- 

Mr.  Hooker  thereupon  took  leave  of  the  city  and  went  to 
Delft.  Here  he  became  associated  for  "  about  the  space  of 
two  years"  with  "  Mr.  Forbs,  an  aged  and  holy  Scotch  minis- 


^"  A  vacated  chapel  o£  the  Begyn  Nuns  was,  early  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, assigned  by  the  Burgomasters  of  Amsterdam  to  the  British  Presbyterians. 
In  most  respect  its  discipline  conformed  to  the  Dutch  Reformed  church. 

51  Fuller's  Church  History,  Bk.  xi,  p.  51.  His  many  controversies,  with 
Ainsworth,  Best,  Hooker,  Parker,  Davenport,  and  others  seem  to  justify  the 
epithet. 

■5' Mr.  Paget  preached  his  first  sermon  in  this  chapel,  February  5,  1607.  He 
was  inducted  into  office,  April  2gth,  and  continued  in  the  pastorate  till  1636, 
dying  in  the  pastorate.  Mather  speaks  of  him  as  an  "old"  man  at  the  time  of 
his  connection  with  Mr.  Hooker.  Magnalia,  vol.  i,  307.  See  also  Hanbury's 
Memorials,  vol.  i,  pp.  540-541. 

^^  Hanbury,  i,  p.  532. 

^'^  Ibid,  i,  532. 


1586-1633]  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN   HOLLAND.  ^^ 

ter,"  pastor  of  the  British  church  in  that  place."  Mather 
speaks  with  his  usual  effusiveness  of  classical  illustration  of 
the  relationship  existing  during  these  two  years  between  Mr. 
Forbes  and  Mr.  Hooker,  comparing  them  to  "  Basil  and 
Nazianzen,  one  soul  in  two  bodies;"  but  of  positive  incident 
records  only  the  first  preaching  of  Mr.  Hooker  at  Delft,  from 
the  text  :  PJiil,  i,  29.  "  To  you  it  is  given  not  only  to  be- 
lieve but  also  to  suffer."  ^^ 

After  about  two  years  Mr.  Hooker  removed  to  Rotter- 
dam," being  invited  to  some  kind  of  joint  pastorate  of  the 
English  congregation  at  that  place  under  the  care  of  the 
celebrated  Dr.  William  Ames,  one  of  the  most  eminent  of 
Puritan  divines.^* 

Here  he  united  with  Dr.  Ames  in  the  authorship  of  a 
volume  entitled  "A  Fresh  suit  against  Human  Ceremonies 
in  God's  Worship,"  published  in  1633  ;  in  view  of  which  a 
remark  made  in  addition  to  the  main  text  of  the  "Fresh 
Suit "  becomes  significant  of  Hooker's  position,  viz.  : 
"  Ecclesiastical  corruptions  urged  and  obtruded  are  the 
proper  occasion  of  Separation." 


s^Rev.  John  Forbes,  born  about  1870 ;  originally  a  minister  in  Scotland,  but 
exiled  to  Holland  about  1611.  He  became  connected  with  the  Delft  congrega- 
tion apparently  in  1621,  and  died  about  the  year  1634,  "after  he  had  been 
removed  from  his  charge  at  Delft  by  the  jealous  interference  of  the  English 
Government."     Stevens'  History  Scottish  Church  in  Rotterdam,  p.  294. 

^^  Magnolia,  i,  308. 

^''  The  British  residents  at  Rotterdam  formed  themselves  into  a  congregation 
under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Hugh  Peters  in  1623.  From  the  beginning  down  to 
1653,  this  church  appears  to  have  been  strictly  Congregational,  at  which  time 
it  became  Presbyterian.  Three  and  even  four  clergymen  have  at  the  same  time 
been  officially  connected  with  this  church.     Stevens'  Scottish  Church,  p.  -TiTtZ- 

^^  Wm.  Ames,  born  1576,  died  1633,  ^^^  ^  Cambridge  .scholar  educated  under 
Dr.  Wm.  Perkins.  He  wrote  chiefly  in  Latin,  and  is  better  known  on  the  Con- 
tinent bv  his  Latinized  name  Amesiiis.  He  became  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Rotterdam  in  1632,  which  must  have  been  about  coincident  with  Hooker's 
association  with  him  there.  He  had  been  previously  professor  of  Divinity  at 
Franeker.     He  sustained  his  new  relationship  only  a  few  months. 


44  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [15S6-1633. 

Mr.  Hooker's  estimate  of  Dr.  Ames  was  very  high ;  but 
we  are  more  interested  in  the  statement  that  Dr.  Ames  was 
wont  to  say  of  Mr.  Hooker,  that  "though  he  had  been 
acquainted  with  many  scholars  of  divers  nations,  yet  he 
never  met  with  Mr.  Hooker's  equal,  either  for  preaching  or 
disputing."'^ 

But  the  state  of  things  in  Holland  was  unsatisfactory. 
Mr.  Hooker  wrote  to  John  Cotton  from  Rotterdam:  "The 
state  of  these  provinces  to  my  weak  eyes  seems  wonderfully 
ticklish  and  miserable.  For  the  better  part,  Jicart  religion 
they  content  themselves  with  very  forms,  though  much 
blemished  ;  but  the  power  of  Godliness,  for  aught  I  can  see 
or  hear,  they  know  not ;  and  if  it  were  thoroughly  pressed,  I 
fear  least  it  will  be  fiercely  opposed."  ^^ 

Probably,  before  this,  negotiations  had  already  been  opened 
with  him  to  go  to  New  England.  It  will  be  remembered 
that,  as  early  as  August,  1632,  a  company,  called  "Mr. 
Hooker's  company,"  were  already  at  Mt.  Wallaston.  And 
this  letter  of  Mr.  Hooker  to  Mr.  Cotton  may  have  been  a 
part  of  the  negotiations  which,  at  some  time,  were  under- 
taken to  associate  Cotton  with  Hooker  in  the  joint  pastorate*^' 
of  a  New  England  company.  But  however,  precisely,  that 
may  have  been,  sometime  in  1633  Mr.  Hooker  crossed  over 
from  Holland  to  England,  and,  after  a  very  narrow  escape 
from  arrest  by  the  "pursivants,"  to  which  reference  will  here- 
after again  be  made,  he,  with  Mr.  Cotton,  was  got  incognito 
upon  board  the  Griffin  at  the  Downs,  and  their  identity  con- 
cealed  till   they   were   well   out   at   sea.**^     "Eight   weeks" 


°9  Magnalia,  i,  308. 

60  Ibid. 

61  Magnalia,  i,  393. 

^'■^  Ibid,  p.  309.     The  "  Downs  " — originally  Dunes,  or  sand  hills  on  the  coast 
now  used  to  designate  the  anchorage  off  Deal,  inside  Goodwin  sands. 


1586-1633-]  THOMAS   HOOKER   IN    HOLLAND.  .g 

brought  them  to  New  England,  and  brought  Mr.  Hooker 
and  Mr.  Stone  to  the  congregation  waiting  for  them  at  New- 
town, the  place  to  which  the  Braintree  company  had  been 
ordered  to  remove  from  their  first  place  of  setting  down  at 
Mt.  Wallas  ton. 


CHAPTER  III. 


STONE,  AND  THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

In  the  ship  with  "Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Hooker"  came  also 
"  Mr.  Stone."  ' 

Rev.  Samuel  Stone  was  born  in  Hertford,  England.  He 
was  the  son  of  John  Stone,  a  freeholder  of  that  place.^  He 
was  baptized  in  the  Church  of  All  Saints,  July  30,  1602. 
He  was  consequently,  at  the  time  of  his  reaching  New  Eng- 
land, thirty-one  years  of  age,  and  sixteen  years  younger  than 
Mr.  Hooker,  his  associate. 

The  town  of  his  birth  is  the  county-town  of  the  county 
bearing  the  same  name,  and  is  generally  pronounced  Harford. 

The  name,  now  spelled  Hertford,  was  formerly  quite  as 
often  spelled  Hartford,^  and  the  Borough  had,  from  before 


^  Winthrop,  p.  129. 

2  In  a  "  Survey  of  the  Burrough  of  Hartford,  in  the  Countie  of  Hertford, 
parcell  off  the  lands  and  possessions  oif  Charles,  Prince  of  Wales.  .  .  .  taken 
in  the  yeare  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-one,"  made  by  John  Norden, 
Deputy  Surveyor,  and  certified  to  by  John  Stone  and  twelve  other  freeholders 
of  the  "  Mannor  of  Hertford,"  John  Stone's  name  as  freeholder  appears  with 
ninety-two  others.     Cussan's  Hertfordshire,  ii,  pp.  261,  262. 

^  The  Parish  Register  of  St.  Andrews  is  inscribed  on  the  cover,  ^^  Liber 
Parochialis  Scti  Andrea  de  Hartford,  1598."  A  monument  in  All  Saints  of 
1681  is  erected  to  an  inhabitant  of "  Hartford."  The  name  appears  often 
spelled  in  both  ways  in  the  same  document,  e-  g.  see  previous  tiote.  And  Rev. 
W.  Wigram,  Rector  of  St.  Andrews,  in  a  letter  to  the  present  writer,  of  date 
March  7,  1S83,  says:  "The  local  Regiment  of  Militia  is  very  scrupulous  in 
insisting  that  they  are  of  Hartfordshire."  I  wish  here  to  acknowledge  great 
indebtedness  to  Rev.  Mr.  Wigram  for  transcripts  from  All  Saints'  Register,  and 
for  numerous  other  interesting  items  of  information. 


i6o2-i633-]  STONE   IN   ENGLAND.  47 

the  time  of  Elizabeth,  the  device  of  a  hart  crossing  a  ford  for 
its  coat  of  arms  on  its  public  seal.' 

It  is  a  clean,  well-built  place,  on  the  river  Lea,  about 
twenty-five  miles  due  north  from  London.  It  has  two 
ancient  parishes,  All  Saints  and  St.  Andrews,  which  had  for 
their  rectors,  during  the  childhood  and  youth  of  Stone,  the 
first.  Rev.  Thomas  Noble,  and  the  second,  Rev.  Thomas 
Fielde.^ 

Very  little  is  known  of  Samuel  Stone's  early  years.  The 
Register  of  All  Saints'  parish  gives  the  baptism  of  nine  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  between  the  years  1599  and  1629,"  and 
the  burial  of  four  of  them  between  1601  and  1635.'  Several 
of  Mr.  Stone's  children,  born  in  new  Hartford,  were  named 
for  their  uncles  and  aunts,  whose  birth  or  burial  is  recorded 
in  the  old  Hartford  register. 

We  may  reasonably  conjecture  the  place  of  his  education, 
preparatory  to  the  university,  to  have  been  Hale's  grammar 
school,  in  his  native  town.  Richard  Hale  built  and  endowed 
a  grammar  school  adjoining  the  church  yard  of  All  Saints, 
for  the  sons  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  in  1617,  when 
Master  Samuel  was  about  fifteen  years  old;  and,  as  there 
was  in  the  place  no  anterior  existing  school  of  any  similar 
standing,  it  is  probable  that  a  part  at  least  of  his  schooling 
was  obtained  there. 


*  Cussan's  Hertfordshire,  ii,  47. 

^  Rev.  Thomas  Noble  died  in  1631,  after  a  long  incumbency  of  uncertain 
commencement.  Rev.  Thomas  Fielde  was  vicar  of  St.  Andrews  from  Dec.  11, 
1598,  to  Aug.  1623. 

^  Jeremyas,  bap.  Feb'y  18,  1599;  Jerome,  bap.  Sep.  29,  1604;  John,  bap.  July 
6,  1607;  Mary,  bap.  Jan'y  13,  1609;  Ezechiell,  bap.  Nov.  i,  1612;  Lidda,  bap. 
April  17,  1616;  Elizabeth,  bap.  Oct.  21,  1621 ;  Sara,  bap.  April  3,  1625;  Eze- 
chyell,  April  27,  1629. 

■Jeremy,  hurried  Jan'y  19,  1601;  John,  bur.  Oct.  8,  1609;  Ezechiell,  bur. 
Aprill  27,  1629;  Lidae,  bur.  Aug.  10,  1635. 


48  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1602-1633. 

April  19,  1620,  found  him  matriculated  pensioner  at 
Emmanuel  College,  the  "  mere  nursery "  of  Puritanism. 
Lawrence  Chaderton,  who  had  been  head  of  the  college  in 
Hooker's  day,  was  still  there,  but  before  Stone  took  his  degree 
of  B.  A.,  in  1624,-  had  retired  in  favor  of  the  celebrated  John 
Preston,  and  to  prevent  the  calamity  of  "  an  Arminian  suc- 
cessor." The  influences  which  molded  Stone's  college  life 
were,  therefore,  essentially  those  which  affected  that  of  his 
predecessor,  Hooker.  The  struggle  between  Puritanism  and 
Ecclesiasticism  was,  however,  all  the  while  intensifying. 

His  first  year  in  the  university  saw  the  departure  of  the 
Pilgrims  for  Plymouth.  The  next  year  after,  saw  the  dis- 
solution of  James'  second  Parliament, — the  leaves  of  its 
journals  torn  out  by  the  King's  own  hand.  The  year  before 
Stone  took  his  B.  A.  degree,  Prince  Charles  quitted  England 
in  disguise,  and  appeared  at  Madrid  to  claim  the  Infanta  as 
the  future  British  Queen.  Midway  between  Stone's  B.  A. 
and  M.  A.  degrees,  James  died,  Charles  succeeded  to  the 
throne,  married  Henrietta  Maria,  took  Laud  to  be  his  most 
intimate  advisor  in  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  dissolved  his 
first  Parliament,  even  before  he  was  crowned.  The  year 
1627,  which  marked  the  formal  completion  of  Stone's  course 
at  the  university,  and  his  probable  departure  from  Cam- 
bridge, beheld  the  levy  of  a  forced  loan  by  the  King,  the 
degradation  of  Chief  Justice  Crewe,  who  refused  to  acknowl- 
edge the  legality  of  that  transaction,  and  the  disastrous  issue 
of  the  siege  of  Rochelle. 

These  were  important  matters  crowded  into  the  brief 
years  of  a  college  course,  and  must  have  left  impressions  as 


^  Ms.  record  of  Emmanuel  College.  Mr.  Alfred  Rose,  in  behalf  of  tlie  Libra- 
rian writes,  April  15,  1883  :  "Mr.  Stone  took  his  first  degree  somewhat  later 
than  usual,  as,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  he  might  have  been  expected  to 
proceed  to  his  first  degree  after  three  complete  years  from  his  entry." 


i6o2-i633-]  STONE   IN   ENGLAND.  ^g 

lasting  as  any  thing  derived  from  the  curricukim  of  the  uni- 
versity. 

Our  next  glimpse  of  Stone  is  as  a  student  of  a  theological 
class  in  a  very  peculiar  and  interesting  school. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Blackerby,'  a  graduate  of  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge,  and  an  eminent  scholar  and  divine,  "not 
being  capable  of  a  benefice  because  he  could  not  subscribe," 
established  a  school  at  Aspen  in  Essex  County,  where  amid 
a  good  deal  of  harrassment,  he  boarded  and  educated  divinity 
students  for  twenty-three  years.  "  Divers  young  students, 
after  they  came  from  the  university,  betook  themselves  unto 
him  to  prepare  for  the  Ministry,  and  many  eminent  persons 
proceeded  from  this  Gamaliel^  ' "  Mr.  Stone  was  among 
their  number. 

How  long  a  time  Mr.  Stone  continued  under  the  instruc- 
tions of  Mr.  Blackerby  is  uncertain.  The  next  event  of  his  his- 
tory which  can  be  recovered,  is  his  going  to  Towcester,  a  mar- 
ket town  of  Northamptonshire,  as  a  Puritan  Lecturer."  He 
went  thither  in  1630  by  the  commendation  of  Thomas  Shep- 
ard,  some  years  afterward  the  son-in-law  of  Thomas  Hooker, 
and  pastor  of  the  church  which  succeeded  Mr.  Hooker's  at 
Newtown.  Shepard  had  himself  been  invited  to  the  Tow- 
cester lectureship,  the  place  being  in  the  immediate  vicinity 


3  Born  1572,  Cambridge  1589,  died  164S.  While  at  Cambridge  he  was  awak- 
ened by  the  preaching  of  "the  famous  Mr.  Perkins,"  but  was  several  years  in 
distress  of  mind.  At  length,  intending  to  return  to  Cambridge  and  lay  his  case 
open  to  Mr.  Perkins,  as  he  was  "  riding  over  New  Market  Heath,  the  Lord 
revealed  himself."     Clarke's  Lives  of  Eminent  Persons^  (17S3,)  p.  57. 

10  "  If  he  was  suspended  in  one  county,  he  would  go  and  preach  in  another, 
for  his  Habitation  was  near  two  or  three  several  Counties."  He  was  "almost 
constantly  at  Lectures  in  some  neighboring  town,"  or  statedly  preaching  "for  at 
least  ten  years  at  Stoke  by  Clare  or  Hunden,  in  Suffolk."  "  He  kept  three 
Diaries  of  his  Life,  one  in  Greek,  another  in  Latin,  and  a  third  in  English" 
Clark's  Lives  of  Sundry  Eminent  Persons,  pp.  58,  59,  63. 

"  Shepard'' s  Autobiography,  Young'' s  Mass.  Chronicles,  518. 
7 


^O  •        THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1602-1633. 

of  his  home.  His  commendation  of  Mr.  Stone  to  the  place 
he  could  not  himself  occupy,  was  not  based  on  any  new 
acquaintance.  Eight  years  before,  when  Stone  and  Shepard 
were  at  Emmanuel  together,  Stone,  being  the  elder  by  about 
four  years,  was  his  advisor  in  a  matter  of  great  concern  to 
him,  commending  him  to  the  "  spiritual  and  excellent  preach- 
ing of  Dr.  Preston.'^  And  Shepard  records  that  Mr.  Stone 
"  went  to  Towcester  with  the  Lecture,  where  the  Lord  was 
with  him.  And  thus  I  saw  the  Lord's  mercy  following  me  to 
make  me  a  poor  instrument  of  sending  the  Gospel  to  the 
place  of  my  nativity."  '' 

It  was  during  the  occupancy  of  this  Towcester  Lecture- 
ship, which  post  he  must  have  filled  for  about  three  years, 
that  Mr.  Stone  was  invited,  "by  the  judicious  Christians  that 
were  coming  to  Nciv  England  with  J/r.  Hooker"  to  be  "an 
assistant  unto  Mr.  Hooker,  with  something  of  a  disciple 
also."  " 

It  appears  that  negotiations  for  associating  Mr.  Hooker 
and  Mr.  Cotton  had  previously  been  made  and  had  failed,  and 
the  conclusion  having  been  arrived  at  that,  "  a  couple  of 
such  great  men  might  be  i^ore  serviceable  asnnder  than 
together"  the  "judicious  Christians  "  turned  to  younger  men. 
Three  were  proposed  —  "  Mr.  Shepard,  Mr,  Norton,  and  Mr. 
Stone,  then  a  lecturer  at  Towcester  ;"  the  last  of  whom  "was 
the  person  upon  whom  it  at  length  fell,  to  accompany  Mr. 
Hooker  into  America."  '" 

One  final  incident  of  Mr.  Stone's  experience  in  England, 
remains  in  the  quaint  and  pedantic  narrative  of  Mather,  which 
shows  him  to  have  been,  as  he  always  has  had  the  credit 


'"^  /did,  p.  506. 

'^  //>/d,  p.  518.    The  pecuniary  value  of  the  Lectureship  was  £10  per  antitim. 

"  Magnalia,  i,  393. 

»5  Ibid. 


1602-1633.]  STONE   IN   ENGLAND.  5 1 

of  being,  a  man  of  ready  wits.  The  incident  took  place 
after  Mr.  Hooker  had  come  over  from  Holland  to  England  on 
his  way  to  America,  and,  though  the  fact  is  not  stated,  very 
probably  at  Mr.  Stone's  family  home  in  Hertford.  It  may 
be  rehearsed  in  the  language  of  the  Magnalia :  "  Return- 
ing into  Eiiglaiid  in  order  to  a  further  voyage  he  (Mr.  Hooker) 
was  quickly  scented  by  the  pursevants ;  who  at  length  got  so 
far  up  with  him  as  to  knock  at  the  door  of  that  very  chamber 
where  he  was  now  discoursing  with  Mr.  Stone  ;  who  was  now 
become  his  designed  companion  and  assistant  for  the  Netv 
English  enterprise.  Mr,  Stone  was  at  that  instant  smoking 
of  tobacco  ;  for  which  Mr.  Hooker  had  been  reproving  him, 
as  being  then  used  by  few  persons  of  sobriety  ;  being  also 
of  a  sudden  and  pleasant  wit,  he  stept  unto  the  door,  with  his 
pipe  in  his  mouth,  and  such  an  air  of  speech  and  look  as  gave 
him  some  credit  with  the  officer. 

"  The  officer  demanded,  '  Whether  Mr.  Hooker  zvere  not 
there V  Mr.  Stone  replied  with  a  braving  sort  of  confidence, 
*  What  Hooker  ?  Do  you  mean  Hooker  that  lived  once  at 
Chelmsford V  The  officer  answerd,  'Yes,  he!'  Mr.  Stone 
immediately,  with  a  diversion  like  that  which  once  helped 
Athanasins,  made  this  true  answer,  'If  it  be  he  you  look  for, 
I  saw  him  about  an  hour  ago  at  such  an  house  in  the  town  ; 
you  had  better  hasten  thither  after  him.' 

"The  officer  took  this  for  a  sufficient  account,  and  went  his 
way  ;  but  Mr.  Hooker,  upon  this  intimation,  concealed  him- 
self more  carefully  and  securely,  till  he  went  on  board  at  the 
Downs,  in  the  year  1633,  the  ship  which  brought  him  and  Mr. 
Cotton,  and  Mr.  Stone  to  New  England ;  where  none  but  Mr. 
Stone  was  owned  for  a  preacher  at  their  first  coming  aboard, 
the  other  two  delaying  to  take  their  turns  in  the  publick 
worship  of  the  ship,  till  they  were  got  so  far  into  the  main 


52  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1602-1633. 

ocean  that  they  might  with  safety  discover  who  they 
were."  '" 

The  monotony  of  the  voyage  of  eight  weeks  duration  was 
doubtless  diversified,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Windsor  and  Salem 
companies  which  came  before,  by  one  or  two  sermons  or 
expositions  daily,  and  by  the  special  incident  of  the  birth 
of  an  infant  child  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton  ;  the  withholding  of  the 
rite  of  baptism  from  which  poor  child  till  land  was  reached, 
and  a  new  church-membership  established,  is  a  significant  in- 
dication of  the  quite  pronounced  type  of  Congregationalism 
which  prevailed  among  the  Griffiiis  ship  company. 

Having  reached  harbor,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cotton  were  on  the 
following  Sunday  "  propounded  to  be  admitted  "  members  of 
the  Boston  church.  The  Sunday  after  that,  they  were  ad- 
mitted. And  then-  the  child  was  presented  by  the  father 
and  baptized  "  Seaborn,"  by  Mr.  Wilson,  pastor  of  the  church ; 
Mr.  Cotton  explaining  that  the  reason  why  the  child  had  not 
been  baptized  by  him  at  sea,  was  "not  for  want  of  fresh 
water,  for  he  held  sea-water  would  have  served,"  but  "  i, 
because  they  had  no  settled  congregation  there ;  2,  because 
a  minister  hath  no  power  to  give  the  seals  but  in  his  own 
congregation."" 

This  is  very  vigorous  Congregationalism  certainly.  Cotton, 
Hooker,  and  Stone,  had  manifestly  thrown  over  a  large  cargo 
of  ecclesiastical  doctrines  in  which  they  had  been  educated. 
The  query  naturally  arises  whether  they  had  not  parted  with 
rather  more  than  reason  or  time  justifies .''  The  fact  may  be 
noted,  however,  as  having  its  bearing  on  the  next  matter 
to  be  considered — the  gathering  of  the  Church  at  Newtown 
and  the  ordination  of  its  ministers. 


1^  Magnalia,  p.  309. 
17  Winthrop,  p.  131. 


1602-1633.]  GATHERING   OF   THE   CHURCH.  53 

Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  arrived  in  Boston,  September 
4,  1633,  They  apparently  went  at  once  to  Newtown,  and  on 
the  nth  of  October  following,  in  connection  with  a  "fast," 
were  chosen  Pastor  and  Teacher. 

The  absence  of  any  reference  in  Winthrop's  account  of 
the  establishment  of  this  ministerial  relationship  to  any  for- 
mation of  a  church  at  the  same  time,  would  of  itself  make 
it  probable  that  the  Church  had  already  at  some  uncertain 
date  previously  been  "  gathered."  "  And  this  probability  is 
enhanced  by  other  considerations.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  fourteen  months  previous,  August  14,  1632,  the  com- 
pany of  people  known  as  "  Mr.  Hooker's  company "  had 
been  ordered  by  the  Court  to  remove  from  Mount  Wallaston 
to  Newtown.'"  And  there  is  evidence  that  during  this  year 
1632,  a  "  house  for  public  worship"  was  built  at  Newtown, 
with  the  then  very  unusual  appointment  of  "a  bell  upon 
it."^°  Add  to  this,  the  statement  of  Hubbard,  writing  before 
1682,  when  many  still  lived  who  must  have  been  cognizant 
of  the  facts,  that  Mr.  Hooker  was  "ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  at  New-Town,  which  had  all  that  time  continued 
without  a  particular  minister  of  their  own,"°'  and  the  proba- 
bility becomes  about  a  certainty  that  when  Hooker  and  Stone 
arrived,  the  Newtown  people  had  been  already,  and  perhaps 
for  a  considerable  time,  "  gathered  "  into  a  church  estate. 

But  at  whatsoever  time  this  gathering  took  place  there 
can  be  little  doubt  as  to  the  manner  of  it. 


^^  Ibid,  p.  137. 

^'^  Ibid,  pp.  104-105. 

2°  Prince's  Annals,  ii,  75.  The  statements  of  Prince,  both  as  to  church  and 
bell,  is  confirmed  by  an  agreement  made  December  24,  1632,  that  "every  per- 
son under  subscribed  shall  meet  every  first  Monday  in  every  month,  within  the 
meeting-house  in  the  afternoon,  within  half  an  hour  after  the  ringing  of  the 
bell."     Paige's  Cambridge,  p.  247. 

21  Hubbard,  p.  189. 


54  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1602-1633. 

The  Braintree  company,  no  more  than  most  of  the"  other 
Massachusetts  Bay  companies,  was  avowedly  Separatist. 
It  was  Puritan.  Its  members  had  probably  every  one  been 
members  of  the  established  church  of  England.  They 
probably  none  of  them,  while  in  their  own  land,  had  stood  in 
a  position  of  declared  Separation  from  it.  But  three  thou- 
sand miles  of  watery  distance,  and  plantation  in  a  virgin 
wilderness,  were  great  realities  which  could  not  be  forgotten 
when  then  the  fashioning  of  new  ecclesiastical  institutions 
was  forced  upon  them.  Hence,  when  the  new  settlers  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  came  to  the  formation  of  their  churches, 
they  did,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  fall  into  the  "  Brownist "  theory 
of  the  competency  of  every  congregation  of  believers  to 
constitute  its  own  church-estate.  Indeed,  in  the  very  first 
instance  of  the  constitution  of  such  a  church  within  the 
precincts  of  the  Massachusetts  province — that  at  Salem  in 
1629 — the  direct  influence  of  the  avowedly  Separatist  and 
Independent  church  of  Plymouth  is  distinctly  recognized. 
And  as  that  case  was  a  kind  of  model  for  others,  and  proba- 
bly for  this  Church  of  Newtown  among  them,  it  may  be  well 
to  look  at  it  a  little  more  definitely. 

The  company  at  Salem  under  Endicott  in  1629,  previous 
to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Skelton  and  Mr.  Higginson,  who  were 
subsequently  set  over  them  as  pastor  and  teacher,  were 
obliged  on  account  of  sickness  to  send  to  Plymouth  for  the 
assistance  of  Doctor  Samuel  Fuller,  who  was  also  a  Deacon 
of  the  Plymouth  church.'-^  When  the  Deacon-Doctor  arrived 
at  Salem  he  held  sundry  conferences  with  Endicott,  not 
only  on  matters  medical  but  matters  ecclesiastical  as  well. 

The  result  of  these  conferences  was  a  removal  from  Endi- 


^^  Samuel  Fuller  was  one  of  the  Mayflower  passengers.     He  had  been  dea- 
con of  the  church  in  Leyden.     He  died  in  1633. 


1602-1633.]  GATHERING   OF  THE   CHURCH.  55 

cott's  mind  of  his  prejudices  against  the  Plymouth  theory 
of  the  church,  so  much  as  to  induce  Endicott  to  write  to 
Governor  Bradford  of  Plymouth,  under  date  of  May  11, 
1629,  "I  acknowledge  myself  much  bound  to  you  for  your 
kind  love  and  care  in  sending  Mr.  Fuller  among  us,  and 
rejoyce  much  y^  I  am  by  him  satisfied  touching  your  judg- 
ments of  y*^  outward  forms  of  God's  worship."^-  And  when, 
in  July  following,  the  two  ministers  arrived,  and  the  business 
of  settling"  the  ecclesiastical  foundation  was  entered  on, 
"  notice  was  given  of  their  intended  proceedings  to  the  church 
at  New  Plymouth,  that  so  they  might  have  their  approbation 
and  concurrence,  if  not  their  direction  and  assistance,  in  a 
matter  of  that  nature  wherein  they  had  been  but  little  before 
exercised.""'  As  a  result  of  all  which  considerations  and 
conferences,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1629,  the  Salem  com- 
pany constituted  themselves  into  a  church,  by  "  setting  apart 
a  day  for  Fasting  and  Prayer',  for  the  settling  of  a  Church- 
State  among  them  and  making  a  Confession  of  their  Faith, 
and  entering  into  an  holy  Covenant  whereby  that  Cliurch- 
State  vidiS  formed."  ^^ 


^^  Bradford's  History  Plymouth  Plaittatioit,  p.  264,  5. 

^*  Hubbard's  Gen.  Hist.,  New  England,  2  Mass.  Historical  Coll.,  v,  119. 

'^^ Magnalia,  i,  66.  Winthrop  gives  account  (i,  214)  of  the  formation  of  the 
church  at  Newtown,  February  i,  1636,  which  took  the  place  of  the  First,  whicli 
removed  to  Hartford.  The  question  was  raised  "  what  number  were  needful 
to  make  a  church  and  how  they  ought  to  proceed  in  this  action  ? "  Whereupon 
"some  of  the  ancient  ministers  gave  answer:  That  the  Scripture  did  not  set 
down  any  certain  rule  for  the  number.  Three  (they  thought)  were  too  few, 
because  by  Matt,  xviii,  an  appeal  was  allowed  from  three  ;  but  that  seven  might 
be  a  fit  number.  And,  for  their  proceeding,  they  advi'sed  that  such  as  were  to 
join  should  make  confession  of  their  faith,  and  declare  what  work  of  grace  the 
Lord  had  wrought  in  them ;  which  accordingly  they  did,  Mr.  Shepherd  first, 
then  four  others,  then  the  elder,  and  one  who  was  to  be  deacon  (who  had  also 
prayed)  and  another  member.  Then  the  covenant  was  read,  and  they  all  gave 
a  solemn  assent  to  it.  Then  the  elder  desired  of  the  churches,  that,  if  they 
did  approve  them  to  be  a  church,  they  would  give  them  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship." 


56  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1602-1633. 

Thirty  persons  signed  that  Covenant,  drawn  up  by  Mr. 
Higginson,  and  then,  being  in  their  view  of  the  case  a  fully 
constituted  church  with  all  power  under  Christ  to  do  what- 
ever it  pertains  to  a  church  to  do,  proceeded  to  ordain  Mr, 
Skelton  and  Mr.  Higginson  as  pastor  and  teacher,  notwith- 
standing both  had  been  regularly  ordained  ministers  in  Eng- 
land. And  this  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  general  order 
of  procedure  among  the  early  churches  of  New  England 
both  with  respect  to  the  constitution  of  a  church  and  the 
institution  of  its  officers.^" 


^^Lechford,  writing  about  1641,  gives  this  general  account  of  the  method  of 
organizing  the  New  England  churches  :  "  A  church  is  gathered  there  after  this 
manner :  A  convenient  or  competent  number  of  Christians,  allowed  by  the 
general  Court  to  plant  together,  at  a  day  prefixed  come  together  in  publique 
manner,  in  some  fit  place,  and  there  confesse  their  sins  and  professe  their  faith 
one  unto  another  ;  and  baing  satisfied  of  one  another's  faith  and  repentance, 
they  solemnly  enter  into  a  Covenant  with  God,  and  one  another  (which  is 
called  their  Church  Covenant,  and  held  by  them  to  constitute  a  church)  to  this 
effect,  viz. :  To  forsake  the  Devill  and  all  his  works,  and  the  vanities  of  the 
sinful  world,  and  all  their  former  lusts  and  corruptions  they  have  lived  and 
walked  in,  and  to  cleave  unto  and  obey  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  their  onely 
King  and  Lawgiver,  their  only  Priest  and  Prophet,  and  to  walke  together  with 
that  Church,  in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  brotherly  love,  and  to  submit  them- 
selves one  unto  another,  in  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ,  to  mutuall  edification 
and  comfort,  to  watch  over  and  support  one  another.  Whereby  they  are  called 
the  Church  of  such  a  place,  which  before  they  say  were  no  church,  nor  of  any 
church  except  the  invisible :  After  this,  they  doe  at  the  same  time  or  some 
other,  all  being  together,  elect  their  own  officers,  as  Pastor,  Teacher,  Elders, 
Deacons,  if  they  have  fit  men  enough  to  supply  those  places :  else  as  many  of 
them  as  they  can  be  provided  of.  Then  they  set  another  day  for  the  ordination 
of  their  said  officers,  and  appoint  some  of  themselves  to  impose  hands  upon 
their  officers  which  is  done  in  a  publique  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  When 
there  are  Ministers,  or  Elders,  before,  they  impose  their  hands  on  the  new  offi- 
cers but  when  there  is  none,  then  some  of  their  chiefest  men,  two  or  three  of 
good  report  amongst  them  though  not  of  the  Ministry,  doe,  by  appointment  of 
the  said  church,  lay  hands  upon  them."     Plaine  Dealing,  p.  12,  13. 

There  were  different  degrees  of  sensitiveness  and  somewhat  different  views 
about  the  validity  of  former  Episcopal  ordination  among  the  early  New  Eng- 
land Ministers.  When  Rev.  John  Wilson  was  made  teacher  of  the  church  of 
Charlestown,  February  27,  1630,  by  the  "imposition  of  hands"  of  some  of  the 
church  members,  it  was  "  with  this  protestation  by  all  that  it  was  only  a  sign  of 
election  and  confirmation,  not  of  any  intent  that  Mr.  Wilson  should  renounce 


1602-1633.]  GATHERING   OF   THE   CHURCH.  ^.  57 

At  some  time  or  other,  then,  and  it  may  have  been  well 
nigh  a  year  before  Mr.  Hooker's  and  Mr.  Stone's  arrival,  a 
church  was  gathered  at  Newtown,  doubtless  by  the  signature 
of  a  solemn  mutual  compact  and  covenant,  on  a  day  set  apart 
for  fasting  and  prayer,  by  which  visible  document  of  agree- 
ment and  sacred  confederation  the  signers  thereof  regarded 
themselves  as  made  into  a  Church  of  Christ,  having  all 
necessary  powers  of  admission,  discipline,  exclusion,  choice 
of  officers,  and  ordination  of  them  to  their  respective  duties. 

What,  precisely,  the  words  of  this  Covenant  were,  there  is 
no  possibility  of  determining ;  the  fatality  which  has  over- 
taken the  entire  documentary  records  of  the  First  Church 
of  Hartford  for  the  first  fifty-two  years  of  its  existence, 
having  fallen  upon  this  its  first  document  also.'" 

But  the  phraseology  will  be  in  all  probability  fairly  enough 
indicated  by  the  language  of  the  covenant  of  the  First 
Church  of  Boston,  its  nearest  neighbor,  which  was  formed 
July  30,  1630,  possibly  three  years,  but  probably  not  more 


his  ministry  received  in  England."  Winthrop,  p.  38.  On  the  other  hand  Rev. 
Geo.  Phillips  is  reported  by  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller  in  a  letter  to  Gov.  Bradford  as 
saying:  "  If  they  will  have  him  stand  minister  by  that  calling  which  he  received 
from  the  prelates  in  England  he  will  leave  them."     Winthrop,  i,  p.  16,  note. 

The  ordination  of  Mr.  Prudden  over  the  Milford  Church  in  1640,  was  by  the 
imposition  of  the  hands  of  the  brethren ;  and  in  the  ordination  of  Roger 
Newton — Mr.  Hooker's  son-in-law — over  the  same  church  in  1660,  the  ruling 
elder  was  assisted  by  one  of  the  deacons  and  one  of  the  brethren.  Bacon's 
Hist.  Discourse,  p.  294. 

*'No  "records  "  of  the  Church  are  known  to  be  in  existence  previous  to  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge  in  16S5.  From  that  date  to  the  death 
of  Rev.  Edward  Dorr  in  1772,  a  meager  and  imperfect  account  of  its  transact- 
ions and  roll  of  its  membership  is  preserved.  Then  occurs  another  hiatus  cov- 
ering more  than  the  entire  period  of  Dr.  Strong's  ministry  down  to  1817,  with 
the  important  exception  that  the  names  of  members  living  in  1807  at  the  time 
of  entrance  on  the  new  "Brick  Meeting-house,"  and  those  added  thereafter  in 
the  residue  of  Dr.  Strong's  days,  are  on  record.  See,  however,  as  to  the  orig- 
inal Covenant  of  this  Church,  the  suggestion  made  hereafter  in  these  pages,  in 
connection  with  the  separation  of  the  Second  from  the  First  Church  of  Hart- 
ford, concerning  a  possible  identity  between  the  original  Covenant  and  that 
adopted  by  the  Second  Church  in  1670. 


^8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.       [1602-1633. 

than   about   two    years    previously.     That   Covenant   is   as 
follows : 

"In  the  Name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  obedience 
to  his  holy  will  and  divine  ordinance :  Wee  whose  names  are 
heer  written,  Beeing  by  his  most  wise  and  good  providence 
brought  together,  and  desirous  to  unite  ©""selves  into  one 
congregation  or  church,  under  C  Lord  Jesus  Christ  our 
Head :  In  such  sort  as  becometh  all  those  whom  he  hath 
Redemed  and  sanctified  unto  himself.  Doe  heer  sollemnly 
and  Religiously  as  in  his  most  holy  presence,  Promise  and 
bynde  o^selves  to  walke  in  all  o""  wayes  according  to  the 
Rules  of  the  Gospell,  and  in  all  sinceer  conformity  to  his 
holy  ordinances  ;  and  in  mutuall  Love  and  Respect  each  to 
other :  so  near  as  God  shall  give  us  grace." 

Who  precisely  they  were  who  subscribed  at  first  to  the 
Covenant  cannot  be  affirmed.  If  the  organization  was  as 
late  as  the  autumn  of  1632,  which  is  probable — the  Braintree 
Company  being  transferred  from  Mt.  Wallaston  to  Newtown 
in  August  of  that  year,  and  a  large  reinforcement  of  men  to 
be  prominent  in  the  Church  arriving  from  England  in  Septem- 
ber, and  the  church  edifice  being  erected  doubtless  after  the 
Mt.  Wallaston  migration — the  subscription  to  the  Covenant, 
it  can  hardly  be  doubted,  included  the  names  of  William 
Goodwin  and  Andrew  Warner,  shortly  to  be  officers  in  the 
new  organization."'  The  gathering  of  the  Church,  by  sub- 
scription to  the  Covenant  would  naturally  be  followed  by  the 


27  William  Goodwin,  Edward  Elmer,  John  Benjamin,  William  Lewis,  James 
Olmstead,  Nathaniel  Richards,  John  Talcott,  William  Wadsworth,  and  John 
White,  all  of  whom  but  John  Benjamin  came  with  the  church  to  Hartford, 
arrived  in  Boston  in  the  Lion,  September  16,  1632.  Simon  Sackett  and  William 
Spencer,  who  also  came  to  Hartford,  were  in  Newtown  before  the  arrival  of 
the  Braintree  Company  from  Mt.  Wallaston  in  August,  1632.  Andrew  War- 
ner, MattView  Allen,  John  Steele,  Edward  Stebbing,  Richard  Butler,  Jeremy 
Adams,  John  Clark,  Richard  Goodman,  Stephen  Hart,  Thomas  Hosmer, 
William  Kelsey,  Richard  Lord,  Hester  Mussy,  Nathaniel  Richards,  Thomas 


1602-1633]  GATHERING   OF   THE   CHURCH.  eg 

choice  and  induction  of  such  officers  "  as  they  can  be  pro- 
vided of."  And  William  Goodwin  may  at  this  time  have 
been  chosen  Ruling  Elder ;  and  Andrew  Warner,  and  possibly 
some  one  else,  Deacons. 

The  Ruling  Eldership  was  an  office  of  much  dignity  in 
the  first  New  England  churches.  Its  functions  were  numer- 
ous. The  ruling  elder  was  expected  to  moderate  at  church 
meetings,  to  propose  the  admission  and  dismission  of  mem- 
bers, to  prepare  all  matters  of  business  to  come  before  the 
church,  to  exercise  a  watch  over  the  private  conduct  of  the 
church  members,  to  reconcile  differences  among  the  mem- 
bers, to  bring  incorrigible  offenders  to  the  judgment  of 
the  collective  brotherhood,  to  pronounce  the  censures  de- 
termined on  by  them,  to  call  the  church  together,  to  dismiss 
its  meetings  with  the  benediction,  to  visit  the  sick,  to  ordain 
persons  elected  by  the  church  to  any  office  therein,  to  preach 
in  the  absence  of  pastor  and  teacher."" 

These  were  certainly  very  numerous  and  difficult  func- 
tions ;  liable  to  traverse  at  one  extreme  the  duties  and  rights 
of  the  pastorate,  and  at  the  other  the  rights  and  responsibil- 
ities of  the  brotherhood.  This  liability  became  oftentimes 
an  annoying  reality,  so  that  the  ruling  eldership,  within 
fifty  years  of  the  New  England  planting,  fell  into  neglect, 
and  was  soon  generally  abandoned."" 

In  the  present  case  the  office  was  devolved  upon  the  only 
person  who  ever  was  appointed  to  it  in  the  history  of  this 


Spencer,  George  Steele,  Richard  Webb,  William  Westwood,  all  of  whom  came 
to  Hartford,  may,  most  of  them,  with  high  degree  of  probability,  be  reckoned 
to  have  been  of  the  "  Braintree  Company "  proper,  and  consequently  on  the 
ground  in  August,  1632.     See  Paige's  Cambridge,  pp.  11-32. 

'^'^  See  Hooker's  Survey,  part  ii,  chap,  i,  pp.  16-19;  Cotton's  Keyes,  pp.  20- 
23  ;  Cotton's  Way  of  the  Churches,  pp.  36-3S,  etc. 

-'■*The  First  Church  in  Boston  chose  two  ruling  elders  as  late  as  September 
18,  1701. 


6o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1602-1633. 

Church,  Mr.  William  Goodwin/"  a  "  very  reverend  and  godly," 
but  a  very  strong  willed  and  persevering  man,  who  stands 
out  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  Church's  early  story.  From 
all  that  appears  he  was  an  able,  resolute,  upright,  and  Christ- 
ian Elder,  intent  on  the  pure  administration  of  the  Gospel 
and  of  Gospel  institutions.  But  it  may  be  fairly  questioned, 
also,  whether  the  very  experience  of  his  vigor  and  pertinacity 
in  the  discharge  of  what  he  regarded  as  the  functions 
devolved  upon  him — to  vyhich  there  will  be  an  ample  necessity 
of  referring  hereafter — was  not  one  of  the  most  persuasive 
arguments  with  the  Church  for  never  appointing  a  suc- 
cessor. 

But  whensoever  it  was  that  Mr.  Goodwin  was  chosen  Rul- 
ing Elder  and  Andrew  Warner  Deacon,  they  doubtless 
officiated,  according  to  the  usage  of  the  churches  already 
instituted,  in  the  induction  of  Thomas  Hooker  and  Samuel 
Stone  into  their  respective  offices  as  Pastor  and  Teacher. 

This  event,  as  we  learn  from  the  only  contemporary 
record  of  the  transaction,  the  journal  of  Governor  Winthrop, 
occurred  on  the  nth  of  October,  1633.  The  brief  state- 
ment which  he  makes  is  as  follows  :  "  A  fast  at  Newtown, 
when  Mr.  Hooker  was  chosen  Pastor,  and  Mr.  Stone 
teacher,    in    such    manner    as    before    at    Boston."'"       He 


8'^  William  Goodwin,  who,  with  some  degree  of  probability  is  thought  to  have 
been  an  Oxford  graduate,  admitted  B.  A.,  1622-3,  arrived  in  New  England, 
September  16,  1632.  He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Court  in  Massachusetts 
in  1634.  He  was  prominent  in  all  the  early  transactions  of  the  Hartford  settle- 
ment ;  a  man  of  large  means  and  great  influence.  In  the  troubles  of  Stone's 
day,  he  left  Hartford  in  1660,  and  went  up  the  river  to  Hadley,  where  he  was 
also  ruling  elder.  Thence  he  went  to  Farmington,  where  he  died  in  1673. 
Governor  Winthrop  {yozirnal,  p.  169,  vol.  i),  speaks  of  him  as  "  a  very  reverend, 
and  godly  man,"  but  records  his  censure  in  "open  court"  for  some  "unreverend 
speech  to  one  of  the  Assistants ; "  as  also  Goodwin's  humble  acknowledgment 
of  "  his  fault." 

31  i,  p.  137 


1602-1633]  GATHERING   OF  THE   CHURCH.  61 

enters  into  no  description  of  the  event  because  he  had 
recorded  on  the  previous  day,  October  loth,  the  "  manner  "  of 
procedure  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton  as  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Boston,  of  which  Winthrop  was  himself  a 
member. 

That  procedure  becomes  thus  a  s^uide  in  the  present  trans- 
action at  Newtown.  And  in  the  light  of  it  no  essential  mis- 
take can  be  made  if  it  is  described  to  have  taken  place  as 
follows : '"  A  Ruling  Elder  and  two  Deacons  having 
been  chosen — either  at  that  time,  or,  as  we  have  seen  to 
be  more  probable,  at  an  earlier  date  unknown — the  **  Con- 
gregation "  signified  in  response  to  the  proposal  by  the 
Ruling  Elder,  their  choice  of  Mr.  Hooker  as  Pastor,  and 
of  Mr.  Stone  as  Teacher,  by  "erection  of  hands."  Then 
the  Ruling  Elder  asked  the  two  elected  officers  if  they 
*'  did  accept  of  that  call."  Whereto  if  they  answered,  as 
did  Cotton  at  Boston,  they,  in  effect,  replied  that  know- 
ing themselves  "to  be  unworthy  and  insufficient  for  that 
place,  yet  having  observed  all  the  passages  of  God's  Provi- 
dence in  calling  (them)  to  it  (they)  could  not  but  accept  it." 
Whereupon  the  Ruling  Elder  and  "3  or  4  of  y<^  gravest 
members  of  y"  church,"  ^^  laid  their  hands  on  Mr.  Hooker's 
head,  and  the  Ruling  Elder  prayed,  and  then  "  taking  off 
their  hands,  laid  them  on  again,  and,  speaking  to  him  by 
name,  they  did  thenceforth  design  him  to  said  office  of  pas- 
tor in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  did  give  him  charge 
of  the  congregation,  and  thereby  (as  by  a  sign  from  God) 
indue  him  with  the  gifts  fit  for  his  office,  and  lastly  did  bless 
him."     The  Pastor  having  thus  been  ordained,  he,  now  taking 


^-  Winthrop,  vol.  i,  136. 

^  See  letter  of  Charles  Gott  to  Bradford  about  the  ordination  of  Higginson 
and  Skelton  at  Salem.     Bradford's  History,  p.  266. 


62  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1602-1633. 

the  lead,  laid  his  hand  together  with  thd  Ruling  Elder  and 
some  "grave  member"  of  the  church  beside,  on  the  head  of 
Mr.  Stone,  and  with  similar  service  of  prayer,  and  declara- 
tion of  office,  and  sign  of  induement  with  gifts  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  with  benediction,  ordained  him  to  the  office  of 
Teacher.  Then  if  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wilson  or  other 
"neighboring  ministers"  were  present,  as  was  probably  the 
case,  they  gave  the  new  Pastor  and  Teacher  the  "  right  hand 
of  fellowship."  And  so  the  Church  in  Newtown  became 
fully  equipped  and  officered  for  its  work  ;  being,  if  we  must 
suppose  it  not  organized  till  this  date  of  October  11,  1633, 
the  tenth  or  eleventh  church  gathered  on  this  New  England 
soil ;  but  if  organized  before,  as  we  have  seen  reason  to  be- 
lieve it  was,  being  probably,  as  Johnson  says,  the  "eighth."  '' 
Pastor  and  Teacher — the  distinction  made  between  these 
two  officers  in  the  primitive  New  England  church,  was 
supposed  to  be  based  on  Scripture  and  to  be  practically 
important.  This  distinction  is  as  well  stated,  perhaps,  as 
anywhere  in  an  "Answer"  of  certain  "Reverend  Brethren" 
in  New  England  sent  in  1639,  ^^  certain  enquiries  addressed 
to  them  in  1637  by  "many  Puritan  Ministers"  in  old  Eng- 
land ;  the  twenty-second  of  which  enquiries  was  this  :  "What 
Essentiall  difference  put  you  between  the  Office  of  Pastor  and 
Teacher,  and  doe  you  observe  the  same  difference  inviola- 
bly ? "  ^^    To  which  enquiry,  this  reply  was  given  :  "  And  for 


^  Wonder  Working  Providence,  p.  61.  The  First  Church  in  Roxbury,  generally 
reckoned  the  sixth  in  point  of  constitution,  was  gathered  in  July,  1632;  that 
in  Lynn  in  August;  Roxbury  and  Mansfield  are  supposed  to  follow,  in  that  or- 
der, in  1632, both  previous  to  the  church  at  Charlestown,  November  2, 1632.  If 
the  Church  at  Newtown  was  gathered  at  the  building  of  its  church  in  1632,  it 
probably  comes  in  order  of  birth  somewhere  between  Lynn,  the  seventh,  and 
CharlestowH;  generally  called  the  tenth.  See  Dexter's  Congregationalism  in 
Literature,  p.  413. 

'*  Church  Government  and  Church-Covenant  Discussed,  etc.,  p.  5. 


1602-1633.]  GATHERING   OF  THE   CHURCH.  5^ 

the  Teacher  and  Pastor,  the  difference  between  them  lyes  in 
this,  that  the  one  is  principally  to  attend  upon  points  of 
Knowledge  and  Doctrine,  though  not  without  Application  ; 
and  the  other  to  points  of  Practice  though  not  without  Doc- 
trine ;  and  therefore  the  one  of  them  is  called,  He  that  tcach- 
eth,  and  his  worke  is  thus  expressed,  let  Jiivi  attend  on  teach- 
ing; and  the  other,  He  that  exhortcth,  and  his  worke,  to 
attend  on  exhortion,  Rom.  1 2,  7,  8,  and  the  gift  of  one  is  called 
a  word  of  hiowledge,  and  the  gift  of  the  other,  a  word  of 
wisdom,  I  Cor.  12,  8,  as  experience  also  showeth,  that  one 
man's  gift  is  more  doctrinall,  and  for  points  of  knowledge  ;  and 
another  more  exhortatory,  and  for  points  of  practice." '" 

Both  were  preachers,  but  the  Pastor's  function  as  a 
preacher  was  thought  to  have  reference  to  the  practical  part 
of  life  and  behavior ;  the  Teacher's  rather  to  doctrine  and 
faith.  Both  had  oversight  of  the  flock,  but  the  Pastor  was 
supposed  to  be  the  shepherd  and  feeder,  the  Teacher  the 
guide  and  warder.  Both  were  to  be  vigilant  against  error,  but 
the  Pastor  chiefly  in  matters  of  practice,  the  Teacher  in  mat- 
ters of  belief.  Both  gave  their  whole  time  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  and  were  supported  by  the  common  funds  of 
the  congregation. 

Yet  it  is  obvious  the  distinction  between  these  two  offices 
was  an  obscure  one,  and  that  each  was  likely  to  be  continually 
taking  on  the  features  of  the  other.  The  Pastor  could  not 
preach  much  without  dealing  with  matters  of  doctrine;  and 
the  Teacher  could  not  instruct  long  without  dealing  with  mat- 
ters of  practice.  So  that  it  is  not  a  surprising  thing  that  this 
supposed  important  distinction  between  the  pastoral  and  the 
teaching  function,  though  lasting  longer  than  the  supposed 


^  Ibid,  p.  76.     The  "Answer  of  the  Elders  "  was  drawn  up  by  the  hand  of 
Richard  Mather. 


64  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1602-1633. 

necessity  of  the  ruling  eldership,  became  before  a  very  great 
while  obsolete.  In  few  churches  did  it  exist  beyond  its 
first  ministerial  generation."  In  this  First  Church  it  lasted 
long  enough,  perhaps,  to  see  a  second  pair  of  pastors  and 
teachers  succeeding  those  who  were  earliest  appointed,  but 
then  it  died.'" 

There  was  the  element  of  a  want  of  a  clear  and  substantial 
difference  between  the  two  functions,  always  existent  to 
threaten  the  perpetuity  of  the  continuance  of  the  offices  ; 
and  there  was,  also,  the  further  and  very  practical  consid- 
eration of  the  expensiveness  of  the  arrangement  to  threaten 
it  also.  If  the  work  could  be  done  by  one  man,  the  ques- 
tion of  paying  two  would  be  a  question  few  New  England 
congregations  would  be  long  in  finding  how  to  answer  to  the 
benefit  of  the  economic  side.  From  the  first  the  pastoral  office 
seems  to  have  been  the  more  honored,  and  the  more  largely 
recompensed,'"  and  not  many  years  went  by  before  the  dual 


^^  Salem's  first  pastor  Skelton,  dying  in  1634,  saw  two  teachers  associated  with 
him,  Higginson  in  1629,  and  Roger  Williams  in  1633,  with  the  latter  of  whom  the 
office  died.  The  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Boston,  Wilson,  dying  in  1667, 
saw  also  two  teachers  joined  with  him,  Cotton  in  1633,  and  Norton  in  1687, 
which  ended  the  office  there ;  as  Davenport  and  Allen  who  succeeded  Wilson 
in  1668  seem  to  have  been  colleague  pastors.  The  first  pastor  of  the  Second 
Church  of  Boston,  Mayo,  dying  in  1676,  had  one  teacher  joined  with  him, 
Mather,  1664.  There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  another.  John  Davenport, 
the  first  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  New  Haven,  had  two  teachers  associated 
with  him,  Hooke  in  1644,  and  Street  in  1689;  but  when  Davenport  went  to 
Boston  in  1667,  Mr.  Street  was  left  in  sole  charge,  and  the  ofiice  of  teacher 
ended. 

**  It  is  not,  perhaps,  quite  certain  whether  the  relationship  of  Whiting  and 
Haynes  was  that  of  Pastor  and  Teacher,  or  of  colleague  pastors.  There  was 
at  first  a  difference  in  recompense  which  suggests  the  idea  of  the  official  dis- 
tinction, but  that  may  have  been  only  in  deference  to  the  question  of  seniority 
in  experience  and  supposed  value  of  service. 

^^  The  Second  Church  of  Boston  has  this  record  under  date  of  August  22, 
1662:  "The  Church  of  y®  North  End  of  Boston,  met  at  Bro.  Collicott's  and 
there  did  agree,  y'  Mr.  Mayo  (Pastor)  should  have  out  of  which  is  given  to  the 
church  annually  £6<^;  Mr.  Mather  (Teacher)  ;^50,  and  Mr.  Powell  (Ruling 
Elder)  £2sr 


1602-1633.]  GATHERING   OF   THE   CHURCH.  ge 

pastorate  based  on  that  passage  in  Ephesians,  "He  gave  .  .  . 
pastors  and  teachers,"  became,  like  the  ruling  eldership, 
a  thing  of  the  past.  Associate,  or  colleague  pastors  we  see 
occasionally  in  our  churches,  but  the  distinction  is  not  now 
based  on  differences  of  function  in  office;  but  simply  on  the 
inability  of  one  man,  whether  by  reason  of.  advancing  age  or 
largeness  of  work  to  be  done,  to  fulfil  alone  the  duty 
required. 

But  in  that  fresh  new  day  of  ecclesiastical  experiment  and 
of  consecrated  devotion,  Pastor  and  Teacher  were  deemed 
indispensable.  And  Hooker  and  Stone  entered  upon  the 
work  of  the  two  functions  side  by  side. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE  CHURCH  AT  NEWTOWN  AND  REMOVAL  TO 
HARTFORD. 

"  Gather  my  saints  together  unto  me ;  those  that  have 
made  a  covenant  with  me  by  sacrifice."  A  covenant  by 
sacrifice  was  what  most  of  the  Newtown  settlers  must  have 
made  in  coming  from  England  to  the  American  wilderness. 
The  change  from  the  settled  homes,  the  fertile  fields,  the 
milder  atmosphere,  the  stately  churches,  the  familiar  ways 
of  the  old  land,  to  the  raw  plantations,  the  rigorous  climate, 
the  rude  habitations  of  a  new  colony,  was  a  change  whigh 
demanded  high  purpose  and  self-sacrificing  stedfastness. 
Most  of  those  who  were  gathered  in  the  Newtown  Church 
were  people  who  came  from  conditions  of  life  which  certainly 
implied  comfort,  and  some  from  those  which  implied  luxury. 

The  ministers  were  men  of  University  education  and  of 
public  reputation  in  the  home  country.  They  had  preached 
in  great  churches  to  thronging  multitudes.  They  preached 
now  in  a  lowly  church  of  logs  or  boards  to  a  few  men  and 
women,  like  themselves  exiles. 

For  all,  but  especially  for  the  women,  of  whose  part  in  the 
sacrifice  history  preserves  all  too  scanty  memorial,  but  whose 
part  was  great  and  heroic — however  unwritten  save  in  that 
invisible  record  which  woman's  deeds  have  done  so  much  to 
fill  with  sacred  story — the  hardship  must  have  been  great. 


1633-1636.]  THE  CHURCH   AT   NEWTOWN.  67 

As  the  autumn  days  shortened  about  the  settlers  who  had 
just  installed  their  Pastor  and  Teacher  in  this  October  of 
1633,  Newtown  was  a  little  village  of  about  a  hundred 
families. 

In  December  of  1630,  nearly  three  years  before,  the  spot 
had  been  fixed  upon/  previous  to  the  arrival  of  any  persons 
belonging  to  the  "  Braintree  Company  "  as  the  site  for  a  forti- 
fied town;  some  houses  were  erected  and  a  "pallysadoe" 
made,  and  a  fosse  dug  about  the  designated  precinct.® 
Thomas  Dudley  and  Simon  Bradstreet,  and  two  or  three 
others,  had  houses  here  as  early  as  163 1.  In  August  of  1632 
the  place  received  a  large  accession  by  the  transference  to 
this  spot  of  the  Braintree  company,  otherwise  known  as 
"Mr.  Hooker's  company,"  who  had  first  settled  at  Mt. 
Wallaston. 

Then,  later,  arrived  Mr.  Goodwin,  and  several  others  with 
him  in  the  Lion,  in  September.  And  in  1633,  Mr.  Hooker, 
and  those  who  accompanied  him  —  together  doubtless  with 
some  at  intermediate  periods  whose  arrival  is  unrecorded  — 
so  that  winter  gathered  round  a  settlement  which  William 
Wood,  writing  the  same  year,  describes  as  "one  of  the 
neatest  and  best  compacted  towns  in  New  England,  having 
many  fair  structures,  with  many  handsome-contrived  streets. 
The  inhabitants  are  most  of  them  very  rich,  and  well  stored 


1  Winthrop,  i,  46.  Dudley,  in  a  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln,  says: 
{Young's  Mass.,  p.  320.)  "After  divers  meetings  at  Boston,  Roxbury,  and 
Waterton,  on  the  28th  of  December  we  grew  to  this  resolution,  ...  to 
build  houses  at  a  place  east  of  Waterton,  near  Charles  river,  the  next  spring, 
and  to  winter  there  the  next  year ;  so  that  by  our  examples,  and  by  removing 
the  ordnance  and  munition  thither,  all  who  were  able  might  be  drawn  thither, 
and  such  as  shall  come  to  us  hereafter  to  their  advantage  be  compelled  so  to  do; 
and  so,  if  God  would,  a  fortified  town  might  there  grow  up,  the  place  fitting 
reasonably  well  thereto." 

'*  Mass.  Col.  Rec,  i,  93.  Holmes,  in  Alass.  Hist.  Society  Col.,  vii,  9,  says  that 
portions  of  the  fosse  were  visible  in  1800. 


68  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1633-1636. 

with  cattle  of  all  sorts,  having  many  hundred  acres  of  ground 
paled  in  with  one  general  fence,  which  is  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  long,  which  secures  all  their  weaker  cattle  from  the  wild 
beasts.'"  These  fair  structures  and  handsome-contrived 
streets,  must  be  understood  in  the  light  of  certain  orders  on 
the  records  of  the  little  town,  that  "  all  the  houses  within 
the  bounds  of  the  town  shall  be  covered  with  slate  or  boards 
and  not  with  thatch,"  and  that  "  all  houses  shall  range  even, 
and  stand  just  six  feet  on  each  man's  own  ground  from  the 
street,"  and  that  "whosoever  shall  fall  any  tree  and  let  it  lie 
across  a  highway  one  day,  shall  forfeit  the  tree."^ 

Here  then  was  the  village  and  Church  of  Newtown,  with 
its  meeting-house  "with  a  bell  upon  it."  ^ 

Meantime  the  project  for  fortifying  the  place  and  making 
it  the  main  town  of  the  Colony  was  gradually  surrendered, 
as  the  superior  advantages  of  Boston  became  more  and  more 
apparent.  Yet  the  place  had  a  reasonable  proportion  of  the 
prominent  men  of  the  Colony,^  and  might,  perhaps,  have 
remained  the  permanent  seat  of  Government  had  not  the 
principal  inhabitants  so  soon  after,  as  we  have  occasion  to  see, 
removed  from  it. 

The  coming  of  so  marked  a  reinforcement  of  the  ministry 
of  the  Bay,  as  was  implied  in  the  arrival  of  Cotton,  Hooker, 
and  Stone,  was  a  source  of  profound  rejoicing  to  the  whole 
Colony.'     The  ministers  themselves  instituted  a  meeting  "at 


^Wood's  New  Engla?id^s  Prospect,  in  Young's  Mass.,  402. 

*  Paige's  Cambridge,  p.  18-19. 

^  Ibid,  pp.  17-22,  and  ante,  p.  53. 

s  Dudley,  the  Deputy  Governor,  who  became  Governor  in  1634,  resided  here; 
Bradstreet,  who  was  an  Assistant,  was  here  also ;  and  so  also  was  Haynes,  who 
was  chosen  an  Assistant  in  1634,  and  Governor  in  1635. 

■^The  people  were  accustomed  to  say  that  their  "three  great  necessities  were 
now  supplied  ;  for  they  had  Cotton  for  their  clothing.  Hooker  for  their  fishing, 
and  Stone  for  their  building." 


1633-1636.]  THE   CHURCH   AT   NEWTOWN.  69 

one  of  their  houses  by  course,  when  some  question  of  moment 
was  debated."  This  meeting,  the  probable  progenitor  of  the 
Boston  Association  of  Congregational  Ministers,  was,  how- 
ever, looked  upon  askance  by  Mr.  Skelton,  the  pastor  at 
Salem,  and  by  Roger  Williams,  who  was  with  him  "exercising 
by  way  of  prophecy";  they  "fearing  it  might  grow  in  time 
to  a  presbytery  or  superintendency,  to  the  prejudice  of  the 
churches'  liberties."'  Apparently,  however,  the  fear  was 
not  shared  by  others ;  and  Thomas  Shepard,  of  Charlestown, 
in  1672,  refers  to  these  meetings,  held  when  he  was  a  boy, 
as  of  great  utility. 

Special  religious  awakening  at  Boston  followed  the  coming, 
of  Mr.  Cotton,'  and  it  was  probably  at  this  time  that  the 
Thursday  lectures  were  established  in  each  of  the  four  adja- 
cent towns  of  Boston,  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  and  Newtown. 
But  by  October  of  the  following  year,  1634,  "it  being  found 
that  the  four  lectures  did  spend  too  much  time,  and  proved 
overburdensome  to  the  ministers  and  people ;  the  ministers 
with  the  advice  of  the  magistrates,  did  agree  to  reduce  them 
to  two  days,  viz.:  Mr,  Cotton  at  Boston  one  Thursday,  or  the 
5th  day  of  the  week,  and  Mr.  Hooker  at  Newtown  the  next 
5th  day,  and  Mr.  Warham  at  Dorchester  one  4th  day  of  the 
week,  and  Mr.  Wilde  at  Roxbury  the  next  4th  day"." 
Apparently,  however,  this  arrangement  did  not  long  suit  the 
people,  who  then,  as  generally,  liked  to  get  all  they  could  out 
of  their  ministers ;  and  in  December  following,  the  old  practice 
of  the  afternoon  lectures  in  each  town  was  resumed."  Mr. 
Cotton's  discourses  on  these  Thursday  lectures  ranged  over 
the  whole  field  of  manners  and  morals  as  well  as  doctrine. 


"  Winthrop,  i,  139. 
^  Ibid,  i,  144. 
10 /^/^,  172. 
"  Ibid,  180. 


70  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1633-1636. 

One  of  them  was  about  veils  for  women.  Mr.  Cotton 
argued  that  veils  were  not  universally  necessary.  Mr.  Endi- 
cott,  the  fervid  leader  of  the  Salem  company,  being  present, 
argued  otherwise,  alluding  to  the  commandment  of  "the 
Apostle".  And  the  discussion  waxed  so  warm  that  the 
Governor — Winthrop — felt  called  on  to  interpose  "  and  so  it 
break  off." 

At  another  lecture,  Mr.  Cotton,  being  moved  by  complaints 
of  the  sharp  dealing  of  Robert  Keaine,  a  merchant  of  Boston, 
"laid  open  the  error  of  some  false  principles"  in  matters  of 
trade;  one  of  which  false  principles  was,  "That  a  man  might 
sell  as  dear  as  he  can,  and  buy  as  cheap  as  he  can ;"  another, 
"That  he  may  sell  as  he  bought,  though  he  paid  too  dear, 
and  though  the  commodity  be  fallen."  Against  which  he 
laid  down  the  proposition,  among  others,  that  "  A  man  may 
not  ask  any  more  for  his  commodity  than  the  selling  price, 
as  Ephron  to  Abraham,  the  land  is  worth  thus  much."  '^ 

At  still  another  lecture,  Mr.  Cotton  came  down  in  reprdval 
on  a  proposition  pending  in  the  General  Court  for  leaving 
out  of  office  "two  of  their  ancientest  magistrates  because 
they  were  grown  poor,"  censuring  "such  miscarriages,"  and 
telling  "the  country,  that  such  as  were  decayed  in  their 
estates  by  attending  to  the  service  of  the  country  ought  to 
be  maintained  by  the  country."'^ 

But  the  staple  of  Mr.  Cotton's  Thursday  lectures  was 
religious  exhortation  and  scripture  exposition.  He  had  prac- 
ticed the  same  thing  at  his  lectures  in  England,  and  in  the 
course  of  his  lectures  "at  both  Bostons,  went  through  near 
the  whole  Bible." '"     Various  issues  of  Mr.  Cotton's  exposi- 


^"^  Ibid,  149. 

^'^Ibid,  378-382. 

i5Z^/^,  ii,67. 

1^  Joshua  S.  Colton's  Nan-ative  of  the  Planting,  4  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  iv,  284. 


1633-1636.]  THE   CHURCH   AT   NEWTOWN.  71 

tions  on  parts  of  the  Apocalypse  were  soon  printed  in 
England- 

Mr.  Cotton's  Thursday  lectures  were  probably  in  substance 
and  topic  essentially  the  same  with  those  of  other  ministers 
of  the  Colony.  We  know  more  of  them,  mainly,  because  he 
had  not  only  great  abiUty,  but  he  had  an  intelligent  hearer 
who  kept  a  journal.  Mr.  Hooker  had  no  Governor  Winthrop 
keeping  a  diary  among  his  Newtown  congregation,  but  he 
appears  to  have  taken  his  full  share  in  the  matters  going  on. 
In  1633  and  again  in  1636,  he  was  associated  with  Cotton 
and  Wilson  in  reconciling  certain  oppositions  of  the  some- 
what touchy  Mr.  Dudley  of  Newtown  and  Mr.  Winthrop  of 
Boston  —  once  on  some  personal  difference,"  and  again 
about  the  degree  of  leniency  allowable  in  the  administration 
of  public  affairs  ;'*  Dudley  being  in  favor  of  sterner  measures 
than  Winthrop  practiced  or  desired.  On  the  second  of  these 
occasions,  Mr.  Haynes,  of  Newtown,  then  governor,  sided 
against  the  lenient  conduct  of  Winthrop ;  a  fact,  perhaps,  to 
be  made  note  of  in  explaining  questions  which  will  shortly 
arise  concerning  the  causes  of  separation  in  the  Colony. 

In  November,  1634,  the  Assistants  called  on  Mr.  Hooker, 
with  Mr.  Cotton,  and  Mr.  Wilde,  the  pastor  of  the  Roxbury 
church,  to  take  to  task  his  old  acquaintance,  the  usher  of  the 
Little  Baddow  school,  John  Eliot — then  the  young  teacher 
of  the  church  of  Roxbury,  afterward  the  faintly  Apostle  to 
the  Indians — for  saying  something  in  his  pulpit  in  the  way  of 
criticism  of  the  magistrates  in  their  manner  of  making  a 
peace  with  the  Pequots." 

So,  too,  Mr.  Hooker  was  called  on  by  the  magistrates  in 


'^  Winthrop,  i,  139-140. 
^^  Ibid,  212. 
^^Ibid,  179. 


72  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1633-1636. 

October,  1635,  to  deal  with  another  offender — the  then  rest- 
less and  afterward  famous  Roger  Williams,  "  exercising  by 
way  of  prophecy  "  at  Salem.  Mr.  Williams  had  written  two 
letters;  one  to  the  churches  of  the  Colony  generally,  "  com- 
plaining of  the  magistrates  ;  "  the  other  "to  his  own  church, 
to  persuade  them  to  renounce  communion  with  all  the 
churches  in  the  bay,  as  full  of  anti-Christian  errors."  Being 
summoned  before  the  Court,  Mr.  Williams  "justified  both 
the  letters,  and  maintained  all  his  opinions."  Whereupon, 
"  Mr.  Hooker  was  appointed  to  dispute  with  him,  but  could 
not  reduce  him  from  any  of  his  errors."  But  the  magistrates 
had  a  reserve  argument.  The  "next  morning  the  court 
sentenced  him  to  depart  out  of  our  jurisdiction  within  six 
weeks,  all  the  ministers  save  one  approving  the  sentence."'" 
In  April,  1635,  Mr.  Hooker  preached  before  the  General 
Court  at  Newtown,  "  and  showed  the  three  great  evils,"  what- 
ever they  may  have  been."' 

The  Pastor  of  the  Newtown  Church  took  a  hand,  also,  in 
another  question  which  seems  puerile  in  itself,  but  which 
had  its  significance  in  old  conflicts  for  conscience  sake  across 
the  water.  Mr.  Endicott  at  Salem  had,  apparently  because 
he  thought  it  a  symbol  of  idolatry,  cut  the  Cross  out  of  the 
military  ensign.  The  matter  made  a  great  stir.  The  towns 
were  called  on  to  choose  a  commission  of  one  from  each  town 
on  the  subject,  to  which  commission  the  magistrates  added 
four.  The  commission  adjudged  Mr,  Endicott's  "offence  to 
be  great,"  and  "  adjudged  him  to  be  worthy  of  admonition,"  and 
disablement  from  office  "  for  one  year ; . , .  declining  any  heavier 
sentence  because  they  were  persuaded  he  did  it  out  of  tender- 


2»  Ibid,  204. 
•^Ubid,  185. 


1633-1636.]  THE   CHURCH   AT   NEWTOWN.  73 

ness  of  conscience,  but  not  of  any  evil  intent.""  A  sensible 
and  quiet-tempered  paper  on  the  subject  of  this  controversy 
was  written  by  Mr,  Hooker,  which  is  preserved."  Its  general 
bearing  may  be  sufficiently  inferred  from  the  single  para- 
graph :  "  Not,  that  I  am  a  friend  to  the  crosse  as  an  idoll,  or 
to  any  idollatry  in  it ;  or  that  any  carnall  fear  takes  me  asyde 
and  makes  me  unwilling  to  give  way  to  the  evidence  of  the 
truth,  because  of  the  sad  consequences  that  may  be  suspected 
to  flow  from  it.  I  blesse  the  Lord,  my  conscience  accuseth 
me  of  no  such  thing  ;  but  that  as  yet  I  am  not  able  to  see 
the  sinfulness  of  this  banner  in  a  civil  use  "  And  the  lan- 
guage throughout  is  that  of  a  man  not  easily  blown  away  by 
what  this  proved  to  be,  a  temporary  whirl  of  excitement. 

But,  on  the  whole,  this  period  of  the  Pastor's  and  the 
Church's  history  at  Newtown  does  not  seem  to  be  very 
fruitful  of  important  incidents. 

The  Church  doubtless  prospered  as  well  as  most  of  the 
new  churches  of  the  country  ;  its  elder  minister  was  as 
honored  as  any  man,  unless  it  were  Mr.  Cotton,  in  the  Col- 
ony, its  prominent  lay  member,  Mr.  John  Haynes,  was 
chosen  Governor  in  May,  1635,  on  which  occasion  he  signal- 
ized his  liberality  and  his  ability  alike,  by  declining  to  receive 
the  usual  salary  of  the  office."  The  town  was  apparently  as 
prosperous  and  wealthy  as  any  in  the  Bay,  its  tax  being  as 
large  as  Boston's."'' 

But  there  was,  all   along,    from    very   near   the   arrival  of 


-Ibid,  1 88. 

2^  Mass.  Hist.  Society,  Manuscript. 

-*  Winthrop,  i,  190. 

25  The  assessment  laid  by  the  Court  in  May,  1635,  was  as  follows  :  Dorches- 
ter, Boston,  and  Newtown,  £zi,  6j.  8a'.  each;  Roxbury  and  Watertown,  £20 
each  ;  Charlestown,  Salem,  and  Sagus,  £\(i  each  ;  Medford,  £\o  ;  Ipswich  and 
Newbury,  ;,^8  each;  Wessaguscus,  £\.     Col.  Records,  i,  152. 
10 


74  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1633-1636. 

the  Griffin's  company,  a  certain  uneasiness  in  respect  to  their 
situation ;  all  the  causes  of  which  are  somewhat  difficult  to 
trace,  but  which  comes  out  in  distinct  indications  in  various 
documentary  records,  and  which  at  last  culminated  in  the 
removal  of  nearly  the  entire  membership  of  the  Church  and 
population  of  the  town  to  Hartford. 

Some  months  after  the  induction  of  Hooker  and  Stone 
into  office,  the  inhabitants  of  "  Newtown  complained  [May, 
1634]  of  straitness  for  want  of  land,  especially  meadow,  and 
desired  leave  of  the  court  to  look  out  either  for  enlargement 
or  removal." ""  Leave  was  granted,  "whereupon  they  sent 
men  to  see  Agawam  and  Merrimack,  and  gave  out  that  they 
would  remove."  But  apparently  the  Agawam  and  Merri- 
mac  reconnoisance  was  not  satisfactory,  for  in  July  follow- 
ing they  sent  a  pioneer  party  of  six  to  Connecticut,  "  in- 
tending to  remove  their  town  thither."" 

In  September  the  matter  came  up  again  in  the  General 
Court.  Governor  Winthrop  gives  this  account  of  it  -J^ 
"  September  4,  the  general  court  began  at  Newtown  and 
continued  a  week,  and  then  was  adjourned  fourteen  days. 
Many  things  were  there  agitated  and  concluded,  as  fortifying 
in  Castle  Island,  Dorchester,  and  Charlestown;  also  against 
tobacco,  and  costly  apparel,  and  immodest  fashions  ;  and  com- 
mittees appointed  for  setting  out  the  bounds  of  the  towns  ; 
with  divers  other  matters  which  do  not  appear  upon  record. 
But  the  main  business,  which  spent  the  most  time,  and 
caused  the  adjourning  of  the  court,  was  about  the  removal  of 
Newtown.  They  had  leave,  the  last  general  court,  to  look 
out  some  place  for  enlargement  or  removal,  with  promise  of 


25  Winthrop,  i,  157-159. 

27  /did,  162. 

2»  /did,  pp.  166-169. 


1633-1636.]  REMOVAL  TO   HARTFORD.  ^c 

having  it  confirmed  to  them,  if  it  were  not  prejudicial  to  any 
other  plantation  ;  and  now  they  move  that  they  might  have 
leave  to  remove  to  Connecticut.  This  matter  was  debated 
divers  days,  and  many  reasons  alleged  pro  and  con.  The 
principal  reasons  for  their  removal  were,  i.  Their  want  of 
accommodation  for  their  cattle,  so  as  they  were  not  able  to 
maintain  their  ministers,  nor  could  receive  any  more  of  their 
friends  to  help  them ;  and  here  it  was  alleged  by  Mr.  Hooker, 
as  a  fundamental  error,  that  towns  were  set  so  near  to  each 
other.  2.  The  fruitfulness  and  commodiousness  of  Connec- 
ticut, and  the  danger  of  having  it  possessed  by  others,  Dutch 
or  English.  3.  The  strong  bent  of  their  spirits  to  move 
thither. 

"Against  this  it  was  said,  i.  That  in  point  of  conscience 
they  ought  not  to  depart  from  us,  being  knit  to  us  in  one 
body,  and  bound  by  oath  to  seek  the  welfare  of  this  com- 
monwealth. 2.  That  in  point  of  State  and  civil  policy  we 
ought  not  to  give  them  leave  to  depart,  (i.)  Being,  we  were 
now  weak  and  in  danger  to  be  assailed.  (2.)  The  departure 
of  Mr.-  Hooker  would  not  only  draw  many  from  us,  but  also 
divert  other  friends  that  would  come  to  us.  (3.)  We  should 
expose  them  to  evident  peril  both  from  the  Dutch  (who 
made  claim  to  the  same  river,  and  had  already  built  a  fort 
there)  and  from  the  Indians,  and  also  from  our  own  state  at 
home,  who  would  not  endure  that  they  should  sit  down  with- 
out a  patent  in  any  place  which  our  king  lays  claim 
unto.  3.  They  might  be  accommodated  at  home  by  some 
enlargement  which  other  towns  offered.  4.  They  might 
remove  to  Merrimack,  or  any  other  place  within  our  patent. 
5.  The  removing  of  a  candlestick  is  a  great  judgment  which 
is  to  be  avoided. 

"Upon  these  and  other  arguments  the  court  being  divided. 


76  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1633-1636. 

it  was  put  to  vote ;  and,  of  the  deputies,  fifteen  were  for 
their  departure,  and  ten  against  it.  The  governor  and  two 
assistants  were  for  it,  and  the  deputy  and  all  the  rest  of  the 
assistants  were  against  it  (except  the  secretary,  who  gave  no 
vote) ;  whereupon  no  record  was  entered,  because  there  were 
not  six  assistants  in  the  vote,  as  the  patent  requires.  Upon 
this  grew  great  difference  between  the  governor  and  assist- 
ants, and  the  deputies.  They  would  not  yield  the  assistants 
a  negative  voice,  and  the  others  (considering  how  dangerous 
it  might  be  to  the  commonwealth,  if  they  should  not  keep 
that  strength  to  balance  the  greater  number  of  the  deputies) 
thought  it  safe  to  stand  upon  it.  So,  when  they  could  pro- 
ceed no  farther,  the  whole  court  agreed  to  keep  a  day  of 
humiliation  to  seek  the  Lord,  which  accordingly  was  done  in 
all  the  congregations  the  i8th  day  of  this  month  [September]  ; 
and  the  24th  the  court  met  again.  Before  they  began  Mr. 
Cotton  preached  (being  desired  by  all  the  court,  upon  Mr. 
Hooker's  instant  excuse  of  his  unfitness  for  that  occasion). 
He  took  his  text  out  of  Hag.,  ii,  4,  etc.,  out  of  which  he  laid 
down  the  nature  or  strength  (as  he  termed  it)  of  the  magis- 
tracy, ministry,  and  people,  viz.:  the  strength  of  the  magis- 
tracy to  be  their  authority;  of  the  people,  their  liberty  ;  and 
of  the  ministry,  their  purity  ;  and  showed  how  all  of  these 
had  a  negative  voice,  etc.  ;  and  yet  that  the  ultimate  resolu- 
tion, etc.,  ought  to  be  in  the  whole  body  of  the  people,  etc., 
with  answer  to  all  objections,  and  a  declaration  of  the  peo- 
ple's duty  and  right  to  maintain  their  true  liberties  against 
any  unjust  violence,  etc.,  which  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the 
company.  And  it  pleased  the  Lord  so  to  assist  him,  and  to 
bless  his  own  ordinances,  that  the  affairs  of  the  court  went 
on  cheerfully  ;  and  although  all  were  not  satisfied  about  the 
negative  voice  to  be  left  to  the  magistrates,  yet  no  man 


1633-1636.]  REMOVAL  TO   HARTFORD.  jj 

moved  aught  about  it,  and  the  congregation  of  Newtown 
came  and  accepted  of  such  enlargement  as  had  formerly 
been  offered  them  by  Boston  and  Watertown  ;  and  so  the 
fear  of  their  removal  to  Connecticut  was  removed."  It  was 
on  the  occasion  of  this  Court,  and  it  affords  an  indication  of 
the  excitement  of  the  parties  in  interest,  that  the  very  "  rev- 
erend and  godly"  William  Goodwin,  the  ruling  "  elder  of  the 
congregation  at  Newtown,"  was  reproved  for  his  "  unrever- 
end  speech  "  in  the  open  Court. 

Things  now  seemed  amicably  adjusted.  The  enlargements 
embraced  the  territory  now  known  as  the  towns  of  Brookline, 
Brighton,  Newton,  and  Arlington.  Making  every  allowance 
for  the  necessities  of  a  hundred  families,  even  of  an  agricul- 
tural and  cattle -raising  class,  this  territory  certainly  seems 
sufficient.  The  population  now  dwelling  on  the  same  soil  is 
upward  of  seventy  thousand.  But  they  were  not  easy.  "The 
strong  bent  of  their  spirits  to  remove"  continued.  Some 
cause  deeper  than  any  lack  of  ground  in  five  townships  to 
pasture  the  cattle  of  a  few  settlers,  in  the  third  year  of  their 
arrival,  must  have  impelled  to  this  restlessness. 

This  restlessness  had  a  curious  exemplification  in  one 
occurrence  which  happened  in  November  after  the  amicable 
adjustment  spoken  of  above.  On  the  third  of  that  month, 
John  Pratt,  a  surgeon  by  occupation,  and  a  member  of  the 
Newtown  Church,  was  called  up  before  the  Court''  to  give 
an  account  of  a  letter  he  had  written  home  to  England, 
complaining  of  the  rockiness  and  barrenness  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Pratt  apologized  for  his  letter,  saying,  in  the  course  of 
his  apology:  "first,  I  did  not  mean  that  which  I  said  in 
respect  to  the  whole  country,  or  our  whole  patent  in  general, 
but  only  of  that  compass  of  ground  wherein  these  towns  are 

29  Ibid,  p.  206. 


78  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.         [1633-1636. 

SO  thick  set  together;  and,  secondly,  I  supposed  that  they 
intended  so  to  remain,  because  (upon  conference  with  divers) 
I  found  that  men  did  think  it  unreasonable  that  they  or  any 
should  remove  or  disperse  into  other  parts  of  the  country ; 
and  upon  this  ground  I  thought  I  could  not  subsist  myself, 
nor  the  plantation,  nor  posterity.  But  I  do  acknowledge 
that  since  my  letter  [which  had,  apparently,  been  written  a 
year  or  more  before]  there  have  been  sundry  places  newly 
found  out,  as  Neweberry,  Concord,  and  others  (and  that 
within  this  patent)  which  will  afford  good  means  of  subsist- 
ence for  men  and  beasts,  in  which  and  other  such-like  new 
plantations,  if  the  towns  shall  be  fewer  and  the  bounds  larger 
than  these  are,  I  conceive  they  may  live  comfortably.  The 
like  I  think  of  Conecticott,  with  the  plantations  there  now  in 
hand,  and  what  I  conceive  so  sufficient  for  myself,  I  conceive 
so  sufficient,  also,  for  my  posterity."  Mr.  Pratt  goes  on 
eating  humble-pie  at  considerable  length,  protesting  that 
"as  for  some  grounds  of  my  returning,  which  I  concealed 
from  my  friends  for  fear  of  doing  hurt,  I  meant  only  some 
particular  occasions  and  apprehensions  of  mine  own,  not 
intending  to  lay  any  secret  blemish  upon  the  State."'"  The 
penitent  culprit's  apology  for  his  letter  was  endorsed  with  a 
recommendation  to  favorable  consideration  by  the  three 
ministers,  Peter  Bulkley,  John  Wilson,  and  his  own  pastor, 
Mr.  Hooker;  and  he  was  "pardoned  his  offence."  But 
his  references  in  his  letter  to  the  necessity,  in  looking 
out  for  a  plantation,  to  have  respect  to  the  needs  of  his 
"posterity,"  were  remembered.  When  he  was  drowned, 
twelve  years  afterwards,  on  his  voyage  back  to  England, 
Winthrop  could  not  refrain  from  recording  in  his  journal 
that  "God  took  him  away  childless."" 


'^  Mass.  Records,  i,  358-360. 
^'  Winthrop,  ii,  293. 


1633-1636.]  REMOVAL  TO   HARTFORD.  ,  ^q 

Undoubtedly  the  land  question  had  something  to  do  with 
the  removal  but  there  must  have  been  something  beside. 
The  "strong  bent  of  their  spirits"  had  some  other  cause 
also.     What  was  it  ? 

The  historian  Hubbard,  writing  within  fifty  years  of  these 
events,  and  while  people  still  lived  who  were  personally 
acquainted  with  the  actors  in  them,  says  that  other  motives 
than  deficiency  of  land  did  "more  powerfully  drive  on  the 
business",  and  were  not,  indeed,  altogether  concealed. 
"Some  men,"  he  continues,  "do  not  well  like,  at  least  cannot 
well  bear,  to  be  opposed  in  their  judgments  and  notions,  and 
thence  they  were  not  unwilling  to  remove  from  under  the 
power,  as  well  as  out  of  the  bounds  of  the  Massachusetts."'''' 
"Two  such  eminent  stars,  such  as  were  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr. 
Hooker,  both  of  the  first  magnitude,  though  of  differing 
influence,  could  not  well  continue  in  one  and  the  same 
orb."^*  Dr.  Trumbull,  in  speaking  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
Haynes,  refers  to  the  motives  which,  in  part,  induced  the 
removal  of  the  Newtown  people  to  Connecticut,  and  inti-, 


'^^  Johnson,  in  his  Wojtder  Working  Providetice,  writing  within  twenty  years 
of  the  event,  says,  pp.  75-76 :  "  Tlie  servants  of  Christ,  who  peopled  the  Towne 
of  Cambridge,  were  put  upon  thoughts  of  removing,  hearing  of  a  very  fertill 
place  upon  the  River  of  Canedico  low  Land,  and  well  stored  with  Meddow, 
which  is  greatly  in  esteeme  with  the  people  of  New  England,  by  reason  the 
Winters  are  very  long.  This  people  seeing  that  Tillage  went  but  little  on, 
Resolved  to  remove  and  breed  up  store  of  Cattell,  which  were  then  at  eight  and 
twenty  pound  a  Cow,  or  neare  upon,  but  assuredly  the  Lord  intended  far 
greater  matters  than  man  purposes,  but  God  disposes  these  men,  having  their 
hearts  gone  from  the  Lord,  on  which  they  were  seated,  soone  tooke  dislike  at 
every  little  matter,  the  Plowable  plaines  were  too  dry  and  sandy  for  them,  and 
the  Rocky  places,  although  more  fruitfull,  yet  to  eate  their  bread  with  toile  of 
hand,  and  how  they  deemed  it  unsupportable.  And  therefore  they  onely  waited 
now  for  a  people  of  stronger  Faith  than  themselves  were  to  purchase  their 
Houses  and  Land,  which  in  conceipt  they  could  no  longer  live  upon,  and 
accordingly  they  met  with  Chapmen,  a  people  new  come,  who  having  bought 
their  possessions,  they  highed  them  away  to  their  new  Plantation." 

33  Hubbard's  History  of  New  England,  306. 

3*  Ibid,  173. 


8o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD,       [1633-1636. 

mates  that  considerations  of  the  relative  popularity  of 
Haynes  and  Winthrop,  and  Cotton  and  Hooker,  were  not 
without  influence.  Mr.  Haynes,  he  says,'^  "was  not  consid- 
ered, in  any  respect,  inferior  to  Governor  Winthrop.  His 
growing  popularity,  and  the  fame  of  Mr.  Hooker,  who  as  to 
strength  of  genius  and  his  lively  and  powerful  manner  of 
preaching,  rivalled  Mr.  Cotton,  were  supposed  to  have  no 
small  influence  upon  the  General  Court  in  their  granting 
liberty  to  Mr,  Hooker  and  his  company  to  remove  to  Con- 
necticut." 

Some  excellent  writers  on  the  life  of  Mr.  Hooker  have 
seemed  quite  unwilling  to  recognize  in  him,  or  to  allow  the 
existence  in  any  of  his  associates,  of  any  such  feelings, 
uttered  or  unexpressed,  as  are  suggested  in  these  statements 
of  Hubbard  and  Trumbull.  But  nothing  could  possibly  be 
more  natural,  and  few  things  are  more  probable.  Nor  is 
there  anything  about  it  for  which  to  apologize. 

The  settlers  of  the  Bay  Colony  were  men  of  strong  char- 
^  acter  and  pronounced  opinions.  They  came  to  the  country, 
to  a  considerable  extent  in  companies  based  on  previous 
fellowships.  They  established  themselves  in  townships, 
largely  according  to  these  pre-existing  associations.  The 
Newtown  people,  in  especial,  were  men  who  had  known  one 
another  and  their  Pastor  in  the  old  country.  They  came 
into  the  pre-existing  community  of  the  Bay  with  something 
of  the  character  of  a  distinct  body-corporate.  Their  after 
history  in  Connecticut  showed  that  on  certain  points  of 
administrative  policy,  their  views  were  different  from  those 
of  the  managers  of  the  Bay  settlement.  This  difference 
manifested  itself  early.  Hubbard  says,  "  after  Mr.  Hooker's 
coming  over,  it  was  observed  that  many  of  the  freemen  grew 


sj  Trumbull,  vol.  i,  p.  216. 


'633-1636.]  REMOVAL  TO   HARTFORD.  8 1 

to  be  very  jealous  of  their  liberties."  A  somewhat  different 
conception  of  the  "  authority  of  the  magistrates "  was  dis- 
tinctly developed  at  the  Court  of  September,  1634,  between 
the  Newtown  party  and  the  party  opposed  to  the  removal. 
A  sharp  difference  of  opinion  between  Mr.  Haynes  and 
Governor  Winthrop,  as  to  administrative  policy,  found  open 
and  free  expression  in  January  of  1636,  and  had  been  taken 
cognizance  of  by  all  the  ministers  and  magistrates,  who  had 
put  themselves  on  one  or  the  other  side  of  the  issue.'"  So 
that  there  is  a  very  great  probability  that  on  political  grounds 
Mr.  Haynes,  Mr.  Goodwin,  and  the  leading  laymen  of  the 
Newtown  settlement  might  have  felt  they  would  be  more 
comfortable  under  an  administration  of  their  own,  in  some 
other  quarter  of  the  boundless  new  land. 

Nor  is  it  unlikely  that  the  Pastor  shared  the  feeling. 
Before  he  left  England,  overtures  had  been  made  by  his 
friends,  acting  at  Mr.  Hooker's  motion,"  to  secure  Mr.  Cotton 
as  colleague  with  him  in  the  proposed  enterprise  to  America. 
The  overture  was  declined.  But  on  the  arrival  together  in 
the  new  country  of  the  two  old  acquaintances — and  doubt- 
less always  two  friends — the  Colony  seems  to  have  been 
thrown  into  a  kind  of  ferment  as  to  the  proper  disposal  of 
Mr.  Cotton.  Thirteen  days  after  he  landed,  the  Governor 
and  Council  and  all  the  ministers  and  elders,  were  called 
together  "to  consider  about  Mr.  Cotton,  his  sitting  down.'"* 
Boston  was  fixed  on  as  the  "  fittest  place  ;  "  and  it  was  at  first 
agreed  that  payment  for  his  weekly  lectures  should  be  out  of 
the  public  treasury.  This  last  resolve  was  presently  revoked 
as  being  invidious  in  its  discrimination,  but  it  indicates  the 
feeling  of  the  time. 

3*>  Winthrop,  i,  212. 
^'  Magnalia,  i,  393. 
8**  Winthrop,  i,  133. 


82  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1633-1636. 

Established  thus,  with  the  acclaim  of  magistracy  and 
people,  in  the  central  point  of  ecclesiastical  influence  in  the 
Colony,  the  great  abilities  and  tireless  versatility  of  Mr.  Cotton 
pervaded  everything.  "  Whatever  he  delivered  in  the  pulpit 
was  soon  put  into  an  Order  of  Court,  if  of  a  civil,  or  set  up  as 
a  practice  in  the  church,  if  of  an  ecclesiastical  concernment."^" 
On  the  critical  occasion  of  the  hearing  before  the  Court,  in 
September,  1634,  of  the  great  question  of  the  removal — 
when  Mr.  Hooker  somewhat  unaccountably  excused  himself 
from  preaching  on  the  political  issue  raised  by  the  Newtown 
proposal — Mr.  Cotton's  effort  apparently  settled  the  business 
adversely  to  the  Newtown  party,'" 

Add  to  these  considerations,  more  or  less  of  political  and 
personal  quality,  some  also  of  a  theological  kind,  which 
soon  began  to  manifest  themselves.  Mrs.  Hutchinson 
arrived  in  September  of  the  same  year  which  saw  the 
adverse  determination  of  the  Newtown  plan  for  migration. 
And  though  the  controversy  which  her  peculiar  views 
occasioned,  did  not  develop  into  prominence  till  afterward,  its 
earlier  effects  in  separation  of  feelings  and  in  bickerings  in 
the  brotherhood,  part  of  whom  adhered  to  Mr.  Cotton  in  his 
earlier  sympathy  with  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  notions,  and  part 
of  whom  agreed  with  Wilson  and  Hooker  in  opposing  them, 
were  already  visible  in  1635. 

So  that,  on  the  whole,  it  is  neither  strange,  nor  at  all  dis- 
creditable, that  the  Newtown  company  should  have  thought 
themselves  likely  to  be  happier  and  more  useful  in  some 
other  settlement  than  that  to  which  the  Court  had  ordered 
them  in  1632.  Conscious  of  the  possession  of  laymen  as 
able  as  any  in  the  Colony,  and  of  a  minister  of  as  great,  if  of 


33  Hubbard's  New  England,  p.  182. 
*o  Winthrop,  i,  168. 


1633-1636.]      "  REMOVAL  TO   HARTFORD.  83 

different,    qualities    as    any   other,   their  "strong   bent"    to 
remove,  continued  and  finally  prevailed. 

Some  of  them  apparently  went  to  Connecticut  before 
September,  1635,  for  on  the  3d  of  that  month  William  West- 
wood,  of  Newtown,  was  "  sworn  Constable  of  the  plantations 
at  Connecticut  till  some  other  be  chosen."  "  Others  soon  fol- 
lowed.'' These  settlers  of  1635  suffered  immense  hardship 
that  winter  along  the  banks  of  the  great  river,  which  froze 
over  that  season  by  the  15th  of  November,  Famine  and 
cold  seemed  to  conspire  against  the  enterprise.  Cattle  died. 
The  people  had  to  resort  to  acorns  for  food.  Except  for  the 
succor  afforded  by  the  Indians  many  must  have  perished." 

But  these  hardships  were  not  suffered  to  deter  the  main 
body  of  the  Newtown  pilgrims.  When  spring  came  again, 
the  rest  of  the  company  were  ready  for  flight. 

Fortunately  the  arrival,  the  autumn  previous,  of  a  large 
number  of  emigrants  in  the  Bay,  and  the  gathering  of  a  con- 
siderable part  of  them  into  a  church  relationship  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard  on  the  ist  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1636,"  enabled  the  Newtown  people  to  sell  their 
houses  to  the  new  comers.  Indeed,  this  arrangement  for 
the  sale  of  the  houses  had  apparently,  to  a  great  extent,  been 
effected  in  the  October  previous  ; ''  and  during  the  interval 


*'  Mass.  Col.  Rec,  i,  1 59. 

*-  Winthrop,  i,  p.  204. 

^3  Trumbull's  Connecticut,  vol.  i,  62-63. 

**  Winthrop,  i,  214.  ■    • 

45  "  When  we  had  been  here  two  days  we  came  (being  sent  for  by  friends  at 
Newtown,)  to  them,  to  my  brother,  Mr.  Stone's  house.  And  that  congregation 
being  upon  their  removal  to  Hartford,  at  Connecticut,  myself  and  those  that 
came  with  me  found  many  houses  empty,  and  many  persons  willing  to  sell ;  and 
hence  our  company  bought  off  their  houses  to  dwell  in,  until  we  should  see 
another  place  fit  to  move  unto.  But  having  been  here  some  time,  divers  of  our 
brethren  did  desire  to  sit  still,  and  not  to  remove  farther."  Shepard^s  Autobi- 
ography.   Young's  Mass.,  p-  545-  ' 


84  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1633-1636. 

Mr.  Shepard  and  his  company  were  resident  at  Newtown, 
and,  as  the  town  records  show,  were  active  in  its  affairs,"" 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1636,  John  Steele  and  William 
Westwood,  both  of  the  Newtown  company,  were  appointed 
among  the  eight  commissioners  empowered  by  Massachu- 
setts to  "govern  the  people  at  Connecticut."  ^'  These  com- 
missioners were  either  then  in  Connecticut  or  speedily  after, 
as  five  of  them,  including  Steele  and  Westwood,  held  a 
"corte  att  Newton  [Hartford]  26  Apr.  1636."" 

The  thirty-first  of  May  saw  the  emigrants  on  their  journey. 
It  is  the  season  of  the  year  in  our  New  England  climate 
when  the  billowy  expanses  of  our  forests  burst  into  leaf,  and 
each  day  marks  a  visible  deepening  of  color  and  density  in  the 
landscape  verdure.  The  streams  run  full  with  the  newly 
melted  snows  of  winter.  The  ground  is  spotted  with  the 
anemonae  and  wild  violet.  In  the  marshy  places  glow  the 
adder-tongue  and  the  cowslip.  The  season  is  alive  with 
promise,  but  the  nights,  though  short,  are  damp  and  chill. 

The  Newtown  pilgrims  struck  out  into  the  pathless 
woods.  Only  a  mile  or  two  from  their  place  of  brief  habita- 
tion, and  they  were  in  a  wilderness  which  no  sign  of  human 
life  illuminated.  There  were  hills  to  be  climbed,  and  streams 
to  be  forded,  and  morasses  to  be  crossed.  Their  guides  were 
the  compass  and  the  northern  star.  Evening  by  evening 
they  made  camp,  and  slept  guarded  and  sentineled  by  the 
blazing  fires.  One  of  their  number,  Mrs.  Hooker,  the  Pas- 
tor's wife,  was  carried  on  a  litter  because  of  her  infirmity. 
It  was  a  picturesque  but  an  anxious  and  arduous  enterprise. 
Men  and  women  of  refinement  and  delicate  breeding  turned 


***  Paige's  Cambridge,  pp.  36-39. 

*^  Colonial  Records  of  Connecticut,  I,  Preface,  iii,  and  note. 

^^Ibid,^.  I. 


1633-1636.]  REMOVAL   TO   HARTFORD.  85 

pioneers  of  untracked  forests  in  search  of  a  wilderness  home. 
The  lowing  of  a  hundred  and  sixty  cattle  sounding  through 
the  forest  aisles,  not  to  mention  the  bleating  of  goats  and 
the  squealing  of  swine,  summoned  them  to  each  morning's 
advance.  The  day  began  and  ended  with  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  perhaps  of  song.  At  some  point  on  their  fort- 
night's journey  a  Sabbath  must  have  intervened,  when  of 
course  the  camp  remained  still,  and  the  people  gathered 
under  the  green  canopy  of  the  waving  trees  to  listen  to  the 
exhortations  of  their  ministers,  and  to  join  in  solemn  suppli- 
cation and  exultant  psalm.  Their  toilsome  and  devious  way 
led  them  to  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chicopee,  not  far  from 
where  Springfield  now  stands.  Thence  down  along  the  Con- 
necticut was  a  comparatively  straight  and  easy  pathway. 
Meadow  lands  were  in  sight  always.  The  wide,  full  river, 
flowing  with  a  larger  tide  than  now,  and  swollen  with  its 
northern  snows,  was  crossed  on  rafts  and  rude-constructed 
boats,  and  on  the  soil  where  we  now  are,  cheered  by  the 
sight  of  some  pioneer  attempts  at  habitation  and  settlement, 
made  by  those  of  their  number  who  had  come  the  season 
previous,  the  Ark  of  the  First  Church  of  Hartford  rested, 
and  the  weary  pilgrims  who  bore  it  hither  stood  still.'" 


*^  Tantalizing  but  uncertain  rumors  of  the  existence  somewhere  of  a  Diary 
of  this  wilderness  journey  have  from  time  to  time  been  heard.  The  rumor 
affirms  that  the  diary  records  the  encampment,  the  first  night  of  their  journey, 
at  a  "  split  rock  "  in  Natick,  which  the  present  owner  of  a  farm  there  believes 
he  identifies.  The  rumor  also  has  it  that  the  names  of  those  who  took  part  in 
the  daily  services  are  recorded.  Possibly  such  a  record  may  be  somewhere 
extant,  and  it  may  yet  turn  up  to  light.  But  its  existence  is  only  a  matter  of 
vague  and  questionable  report.     It  would  receive  a  welcome,  should  it  appear. 


CHAPTER    V. 


THE  TRANSPLANTED  CHURCH  :  EARLY  DAYS. 

The  arrival  of  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone,  and  their  com- 
panions, sometime  in  June,  1636,  may  be  said  to  mark  the 
establishment  of  Church  institutions  in  Hartford.  Some  of 
the  Newtown  people,  who  came  the  year  before,  were  active 
in  the  civil  functions  of  the  new  Colony  and  new  town,  and 
a  few  transactions  bearing  date  of  1635  ^^^  early  in  1636, 
before  the  arrival  of  the  Pastor's  company,  are  witnesses  to 
some  kind  of  temporary  township  and  colonial  administration. 

The  entire  disappearance  of  Church-Records  prior  to  1685, 
throws  inquiry  concerning  ecclesiastical  affairs,  in  the  first 
fifty-two  years,  back  upon  the  few  meager  notices  to  be  gath- 
ered from  the  minutes  of  secular  transactions.  It  is  not  the 
purpose  of  the  present  chronicle  of  the  story  of  the  First 
Church  of  Hartford  to  detail  the  history  of  the  Colony  or  of 
the  Town.  These  will  be  referred  to  only  so  far  as  they 
connect  themselves  with  the  story  of  the  ecclesiastical  insti- 
tution whose  experiences  are  being  passed  in  review. 

Who  precisely  of  the  Newtown  company,  besides  Mr. 
Steele  and  Mr.  Westwood,  were  on  the  ground  prior  to  Mr. 
Hooker's  coming  ;  who  came  with  Mr.  Hooker,  and  whether 
all  who  did  arrive  in  either  company  were  members  of  the 
Church  organization,  it  is  impossible  to  tell.  A  record  bear- 
ing date  about  1639  gives  a  list  of  persons  then  resident  in 


1636-1647-]  TRANSPLANTED   CHURCH.  87 

town,  who  were  divided  into  two  classes,  "  proprietors  of 
land"  and  "such  inhabitants  as  were  granted  lotts  to  have 
onely  at  the  towne's  courtesie." '  In  the  absence  of  certain 
evidence  concerning  the  question  of  church-membership  of 
some  considerable  portion  of  these  individuals,  the  proba- 
bility is  that  most  or  all  of  the  first  class  were  members  of 
the  Church,  and  that  a  considerable  number  of  the  second 
class  were  also. 

Arrived  upon  the  ground,  one  of  the  earliest  transactions 
was  the  purchase  of  the  land  from  the  Indians.  This  seems 
to  have  been  done  in  1636,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Stone,  the 
Teacher  of  the  Hartford  Church,  and  Mr.  William  Goodwin, 
its  Ruling  Elder,  were  the  agents  in  the  negotiation. '^ 

The  territory  embraced  in  the  purchase  was  about  coinci- 
dent with  the  territory  subsequently  known  as  the  township  of 
Hartford.  The  portion  needed  for  the  immediate  uses  of  the 
little  village  to  be  established  was  parceled  out  into  lots  cover- 
ing the  older  settled  portions  of  this  city.'  These  home  lots 
averaged  about  two  acres  each  ;  in  the  distribution  of  which 
those  which  fell  to  the  portion  of  the  Pastor,  Teacher,  and 
Ruling  Elder  were  situated  on  what  is  now  Arch  Street,  on 
the  Little  River ;  Mr.  Goodwin's  being  on  the  corner  of  Main 
Street  ;  Mr.  Stone's  next  eastward  ;  and  Mr.  Hooker's 
beyond  Mr.  Stone's.  Dea.  Andrew  Warner's  lot  lay  across 
the  Little  River,  opposite  Mr.  Stone's  ;  and  Edward  Steb- 


•  See  Appendix  I. 

'  The  original  deed  or  treaty  was  lost,  and  in  1670  the  agreement  was  renewed 
and  confirmed  by  a  document  signed  by  the  heirs  of  "  Sunckquassen,  Sachem  of 
Suckiage,  alias  Hartford."  A  previous  purchase  from  Wopigwooit,  the  grand 
sachem  of  the  Pequots,  of  a  part  of  the  same  territory,  a  mile  wide  along  the 
Connecticut,  by  the  Dutch,  who  built  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  Little  River  in  1633, 
seems  to  have  been  wholly  ignored.    The  price  paid  does  not  appear. 

^  See  map,  p.  88. 


88  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

bin's — then,  or  soon  after,  Deacon — at  the  east  of  Meeting- 
house Yard  ;  that  is  to  say,  from  our  present  State  House 
Square,  north  of  State  Street,  down  to  Front.  A  consider- 
able part  of  the  territory  lying  outside  the  village  limits  was 
portioned  out  to  the  settlers  in  dififerent  amounts,  according 
to  the  "  proportions  they  payd  for  the  purchass  of  sayd 
lands."  ^  From  time  to  time  the  town  voted  land  to  individ- 
uals in  view  of  public  services  or  private  necessity.  Every 
home-lot  not  improved  within  twelve  months  was  to  revert  to 
the  town.'^ 

The  central  matter  of  interest  in  the  place,  from  an  eccle- 
siastical point  of  view,  was  of  course  the  church  edifice. 
This  was  situated  on  the  Meeting-house  Yard,  a  tract  of 
territory  covering  the  ground  now  known  as  State  House 
Square,  and  of  larger  extent,  the  ground  having  been 
encroached  upon  afterward,  both  on  the  northern  and  south- 
ern sides.  Here  somewhere  upon  that  portion  now  covered 
by  the  buildings  of  Central  Row,  it  is  supposed  a  temporary 
structure  first  afforded  a  meeting-place  for  public  worship. 

On  April  5th,  1638,  the  General  Court  directed  that  "the 
costlets  .  .  .  .  in  the  meeting-house  of  Harteford " 
should  be  put  "in  good  kelter;""  and  the  town  voted  among 

its  earliest  requirements  that  there  be  a  "guard  of men 

to  attend  with  their  arms  fixed,  and  2  shote  of  powder  and 
shott,  at  least,  upon  every  publique  meeting  for  religious  use, 
with  two  seriants  to  oversee  the  same,  and  keepe  out  one  of 
them  sentinall  every  meeting."  This  structure  was  probably 
from  the  outset  designed  for  transient  use  only,  and  was,  in 
1640  or  1 64 1,  given  by  the  town  to  Mr.  Hooker. 

*  Town  Record,  transcript  by  John  Allyn  in  1665. 
5  Town  Record  of  early  but  uncertain  date. 
^  Col.  Records,  vol.  i,  17. 


1636-1647.]  TRANSPLANTED   CHURCH.  gg 

The  structure  which  succeeded  it,  and  which  for  about 
ninety-nine  years  served  the  purposes  of  this  Church,  was 
built  upon  the  eastern  side  of  the  Meeting-house  Yard, 
near  the  corner  of  the  road  leading  down  to  the  river,  coin- 
ciding nearly  enough  with  State  Street.  Mr.  Wadsworth,  in  a 
note  to  the  sermon  at  the  dedication  of  the  new  church-edifice 
erected  in  1739,  on  the  site  of  the  present  First  Church 
building,  speaks  of  the  first  meeting-house  as  having  been 
built  in  1638.  The  explanation  of  the  seeming  improbability 
of  the  statement,  and  its  reconciliation  with  the  order  of  the 
Court  about  the  corselets  before  spoken  of,  is  doubtless  to  be 
found  in  the  intentionally  transient  employment  of  the  build- 
ing which  was  first  used  as  the  place  of  religious  gathering, 
and  which,  being  disused,  was  given  to  the  Pastor  for  a  barn.'' 

Votes  respecting  this  new  house  appear  from  time  to  time 
on  the  records.  Probably  it  was  begun  in  1638,  and  not  fin- 
ished, perhaps,  till  1641.  In  its  process  the  town  voted, 
October  20,  1640,  that  Goodman  Post  should  clapboard  the 
building,  furnishing  the  clapboards  himself  at  5jr.  6d.  the  hun- 
dred. Sometime  in  1640  or  1641  the  town  voted  "that  a 
porch  shall  be  built  at  the  meeting-house,  with  stairs  up  into 
the  chamber,"  Then  on  March  13th  of  the  last  mentioned 
year,  the  Townsmen  for  the  time  being,  were  empowered  to 
"  appoint  the  seats  in  the  meeting-house." 

Votes  concerning  a  gallery  in  the  meeting-house  appear  on 
the  records  at  the  different  dates  of  February  3,  1645  ;  Feb- 
ruary 1 1,  1661  ;  February  17,  1665  ;  and  February,  1666.   How 


"  The  Stratford  town  records  state  that  about  the  first  of  April,  1638,  two 
Indians  went  with  Rev.  John  Higginson,  Mr.  Hopkins,  and  Mr.  Goodwin  to 
Hartford,  and  not  long  after  there  was  a  committee  in  Mr.  Hooker's  barn,  "the 
meeting  house  then  not  buylded."  See  notes  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Hoadly,  about  Meet- 
ing-Houses  of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society,  published  in  appendix  to  sermon 
of  Dr.  Bacon,  preached  at  a  pastoral  installation  in  the  First  Church,  February 
27,  1879. 


go  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1636-1647. 

many  of  these  votes  were  carried  into  effect,  or  on  how  many 
sides  the  house  was  thus  furnished  with  galleries  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say.  "The  pulpit  was  on  the  west  side.  The 
building  was  nearly  square,  with  a  hip  roof,  in  the  cen- 
ter of  which  was  a'  turret  where  hung  the  bell,  brought  by 
the  settlers,  doubtless  from  Newtown,  now  Cambridge,  and 
placed  in  the  turret  when  the  edifice  was  first  erected.  There 
was  a  door  on  the  north  side,  perhaps  also  other  doors,  and 
near  by  a  horse-block  for  the  accommodation  of  those  who 
lived  so  far  off  that  they  must  ride.  The  chamber  over  the 
porch,  perhaps  served  as  the  arsenal  for  town  and  colony,  as 
a  room  in  the  south  church  did  in  later  times.  The  windows 
were  small,  and  the  glass  set  in  lead.  Stairs  from  the  inte- 
rior lead  up  to  galleries  on  the  south  and  east  sides, — that  on 
the  south  being  appropriated  to  tRe  boys  and  unmarried  young 
men,  and  frequent  mention  may  be  found  of  the  appointment 
of  persons  to  keep  them  in  order  during  the  time  of  religious 
services." " 

The  worshipers  were  seated  by  the  public  authorities 
according  to  their  rank,  men  and  women  apart  and  on  oppo- 
site sides.  The  Governor  and  Magistrate  had  official  pews 
in  eligible  positions. 

Not  far  from  the  meeting-house,  on  the  same  public  square, 
were  several  other  more  or  less  prominent  objects,  the  mar- 
ket, the  jail,  the  stocks,  and  the  whipping-post.  Near  by, 
too,  was  the  first  burial-ground.     It  lay  on  the  northerly  side 


**  Hoadly's  Jiotes.  "The  pulpit  was  furnished,"  Mr,  H.  says,  in  1703,  "with  a 
plush  cushion  and  a  green  cloth  with  a  silk  fringe  and  tassels."  Probably  no 
such  finery  was  seen  in  it  in  Mr.  Hooker's  day.  The  same  accurate  antiquarian 
says :  "  The  east  side  of  the  building  required  to  be  new  shingled  in  1660,  and 
the  south  and  west  sides  in  1667.  The  roof  was  ordered  to  be  new  covered  with 
cedar  shingles  in  16S7.  There  were  new  casements  for  the  windows  in  1699, 
and  new  ground  sills,  underpinning,  and  clapboards,  and  a  new  flooring  of  oak 
plank  for  the  turret,  were  required  in  1704-6." 


1636-1647.]  PEQUOT   WAR.  gi 

of  the  meeting-house  square,  westward  up  toward  the  side  of 
the  present  city  building.  The  ground  was  formerly  higher 
than  now,  and  its  leveling  removed  alike  monuments  and 
graves.* 

But  this  spot  was  not  long  used  for  burial  purposes.  At  a 
town  meeting  on  the  nth  of  January,  1640,  a  vote  was 
passed,  taking  part  of  the  lot  of  Richard  Olmsted  for  a  burial- 
ground.'"  This  is  the  ground  in  the  rear  of  the  First  Church 
buildings  on  Main  Street,  where  so  many  of  Hartford's  early 
dead  still  repose  ;  but  where  the  bones  of  some  have  been 
disturbed  by  the  digging  for  the  foundations  of  various 
■  edifices  which  have  encroached  upon  the  hallowed  spot. 

Hardly,  however,  could  that  preliminary  church  edifice 
have  been  reared,  and  that  first  burial  place  have  been 
staked  out,  and  the  plain  dwellings  of  the  villagers  been  made 
habitable,  before  it  became  necessary  for  the  settlers  to  fight 
for  their  homes  and  their  lives.  In  February  of  1637,  several 
men  were  killed  by  the  Indians  at  Saybrook.''  A  little  later 
three  men  going  down  the  river  in  a  shallop  were  assailed 
and  overpowered  by  the  savages,  and  their  bodies  cut  open 
and  l\ung  on  the  trees  by  the  river  side.'"  In  April  the 
Indians  waylaid  the  people  at  Wethersfield,  killing  six 
men  and  three  women,  and  carrying  two  girls  away  cap- 


^  Hartford  in  the  Olden  Time,  p.  79.  It  is  said  that  many  of  the  stones  of 
this  primitive  and  leveled  burial-ground  were  used  in  the  foundation  of  build- 
ings on  the  north  side  of  the  square.  Mr.  James  B.  Hosmer,  who  died  aged 
97,  in  1S7S,  is  said  to  have  been  accustomed  to  aver  that  his  father  often  told 
him  he  had  seen  some  of  the  old  gravestones  of  this  first  burying-ground  in  the 
sub-structure  of  buildings  spoken  of. 

''^  In  March,  1640,  a  regulation  concerning  the  depth  of  graves,  and  the  price 
for  digging  them  was  adopted.  None  was  to  be  less  than  four  feet  deep,  for 
which  the  price  was  2s.  6d. ;  none  for  any  one  above  four  years  old,  less  than 
five  feet,  the  price  to  bs  3i'.,  and  none  for  one  over  ten  years,  to  be  less  than 
six  feet  deep,  for  which  the  rate  was  y.  6d. 

"  Winthrop,  i,  253. 

'■^  Trumbull's  Hist.,  i,  76. 


92  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

tives.'''  The  outlook  was  alarming.  Nearly  thirty  Con- 
necticut dwellers  had  been  killed  ;  some  of  them  with  bar- 
baric torture.  A  general  combination  of  the  Indian  tribes 
for  the  extirpation  of  the  white  men  seemed  impending.  A 
Court  was  gathered  at  Hartford — so  called  by  public  order  for 
the  first  time  in  February  previous,  in  honor  it  is  said  of  Mr. 
Stone,  who  was  born  in  Hartford,  England — on  the  first  of 
May,  1637,  at  which  it  was  "  ordered  that  there  shalbe  an 
offensive  warr  ag*  the  Pequoitt."  "  Hartford  was  called  on 
for  forty-two  men,  Windsor  for  thirty,  and  Wethersfield  for 
eighteen.  Captain  John  Mason,  of  Windsor,  commanded  the 
little  army,  which  started  down  the  river  in  "one  Pink,  one 
Pinnace,  and  one  Shallop.'"'  Mr.  Stone,  Teacher  of  the 
Hartford  Church,  went  with  them  as  chaplain.  And  before 
they  started,  Mr.  Hooker,  the  Pastor,  made  them  an  address 
in  which  he  uttered  the  encouraging  declaration  "that  the 
Peqnots  should  be  bread  for  them." '" 

Arrived  at  Saybrook,  a  division  of  opinion  as  to  the 
prudence  of  going  on  in  the  enterprise  arose,  and  the  general 
judgment  of  the  "Councill  of  Warr"  was  against  advance. 
"Capt.  Mason  in  this  difficult  Case"  went  to  the  chaplain 
"and  desired  him  that  he  would  that  Night  commend  their 
Case  and  Difficultyes  before  the  Lord,"  The  chaplain  did 
so,  and  having,  apparently,  arrived  at  the  same  view  of  the 


'^  Winthrop,  i,  260.  For  this  Wethersfield  assault  there  seems  to  have  been 
a  provocation.  See  Loth7-op''s  Cefit.  Sermo7i  at  West  Springfield,  lygS,  p.  23-24. 
"  Sequin,  a  head  jnan  of  the  River  Indians,  gave  lands  on  the  river  to  the  Eng- 
lish that  he  might  sit  down  by  them,  and  be  protected.  But  vi^hen  he  came  to 
Wethersfield  and  set  up  his  Wigwam  the  people  drove  him  away  by  force.  Re- 
senting the  Wrong,  but  wanting  Strength  to  revenge  it,  he  secretly  drew  in  the 
Pequots,  who  came  up  the  river  and  killed  six  men."  Very  probably  had  the 
Indians  a  historian,  other  provocations  would  have  found  record. 

'*  Co/.  Records,  vol.  i,  II. 

15  Mason's  Brief  History  in  Mather's  Early  History,  Drake's  Ed.,  p.  121. 

^^  Ibid,  156. 


1636-1647-]  PEQUOT   WAR.  g3 

edible  character  of  the  Pequots  which  Mr.  Hooker  had 
entertained  before  the  expedition  left  Hartford,  told  Capt. 
Mason  in  the  morning,  that  "though  formerly  he  had  been 
against  sailing  to  Naraganset  and  landing  there,  yet  now  he 
was  fully  satisfied  to  attend  to  it."  "  This  settled  the  matter, 
and  "  they  agreed  all  with  one  accord "  to  go  on. 

The  story  is  a  familiar  one  of  the  heroic  attack.  May  26th,  on 
the  Pequot  fort,  eight  miles  northeast  of  where  now  is  New 
London — a  "  Fort  or  Palisade  of  well  nigh  an  Acre  of  Ground, 
which  was  surrounded  with  Trees  and  half  Trees,  set  into  the 
Ground  three  feet  deep,  and  fastened  close  to  one  another — "  '** 
and  the  surprise  and  slaughter  of  the  Indians.  It  was  a 
marvelously  courageous  and  vigorously  successful  stroke, 
and  permanently  broke  the  Pequot  power.  Several  hundred 
Indians  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  were  killed  by  fire  and 
sword  in  about  an  hour's  time."  It  was  hardly  a  character- 
istic piece  of  church  work ;  yet  it  is  probable  that  the  seventy 
men  from  these  three  towns,  and  the  twenty  men  who  joined 
them  at  Saybrook  in  place  of  twenty  sent  back  from  that 
point,  were  nearly  to  a  man  church-members,  and  the  whole 
enterprise  was  backed  by  profound  faith,  not  alone  in  its 
necessity,  but  its  propriety.  And  in  celebrating  the  victory, 
stout  John  Mason  says :  "  It  may  not  be  amiss  here  also  to 
remember  Mr.  Stone  (the  famous  Teacher  of  the  Church  of 
Hartford^  who  was  sent  to  preach  and  pray  with  those  who 
went  out  in  those  Engagements  against  the  Peqjtots.  He 
lent  his  best  Assistance  and  Counsel  in  the  Management  of 
those  Designs,  and  the  Night  in  which  the  Engagement  was, 
(in  the  morning  of  it)  I  say  that  Night  he  was  with  the  Lord 


^■^  Ibid,  12S. 

'^  Ibid,  1 29,  note,  UnderhiWs  Statement. 

^'^  Ibid,  136.     Vincent  sets  the  number  at  between  three  and  four  hundred 
Mason  at  five  or  six  hundred ;  Gardner  at  three  hundred.     Note,  p.  136. 


94  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

alone,  wrestling  with  Him  by  Faith  and  Prayer,  and  surely 
his  Prayers  prevailed  for  a  blessing ;  and  in  the  very  Time 
when  our  Israel  was  ingaging  with  the  bloud-thirsty  Peqnots, 
he  was  in  the  Top  of  the  Mount,  and  so  held  up  his  Hand, 
that  Israel  prevailed." '" 

This,  done  in  self-defense  and  necessity,  is  all  justifiable 
enough ;  but  it  a  little  revolts  our  feeling  to  find  Mr.  Ludlow 
and  Mr.  Pynchon  and  several  others  of  the  Colony  carrying 
to  Boston  the  skin  and  scalps  of  the  vanquished  "  Sassacus 
and  his  brother  and  five  other  Pequot  sachems,  who  being 
fled  to  the  Mohawks  for  shelter  .  .  .  were  by  them  sur- 
prised and  slain."  ^'  Even  in  that  hard  age  there  was  one 
man,  Roger  Williams,  who  said  of  it,  "Those  Dead  Hands 
were  no  pleasing  sight.  ...  I  have  alwaies  showne  Dis- 
like to  such  dismembering  the  Dead.""  And  when  it  is 
remembered  that  the  very  next  spring  following  this 
slaughter  of  the  Pequot  tribe  and  conveyance  of  scalps 
and  skins  to  Boston,  the  settlements  along  the  river  were 
saved  from  what  threatened  to  be  a  fatal  famine  by  the 
purchase  "  of  so  much  Corn  at  reasonable  Rates "  of  the 
Indians  at  Deerfield,  "  that  the  Indians  brought  down  to 
Hartford  and  Windsor  fifty  Canoes  laden  with  Corn  at  one 
Time,"^^  one  wonders  whether,  even  then,  a  better  use  might 
not  have  been  made  of  the  native  proprietors  of  the  soil  than 
shooting  and  burning  them. 

This  deliverance  from  so  unexpected  a  quarter — together 
with  the  safe  arrival  of  a  vessel  from  Boston  bringing  Mr. 
Edward  Hopkins  and  his  company — was  made  a  prominent 
topic  of  observation  in  the  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  preached 


'^Ibid,\si. 

'1  Winthrop,  i,  281. 

'^'^  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxxvi,  207. 

'3  Drake's  Mather's  Early  New  England,  p.  15S. 


1636-1647]  PEQUOT   WAR.  g^ 

by  Mr.  Hooker,  on  October  4th  of  this  year,  1638,  from 
the  text,  I  Samuel,  vii,  12  :  "  Then  Samuel  took  a  stone,  and 
set  it  up  between  Mizpeh  and  Shen,  and  called  the  name  of 
it  Ebenezer,  saying,  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us."  ^^ 
In  the  course  of  the  sermon  Mr.  Hooker  said  : 

"  In  all  the  creatures  and  helps  that  we  have  in  this  world, 
labor  to  go  beyond  them  all,  and  to  see  God  above  and  in 
them  all.  If  time  would  give  leave  it  were  not  unworthy 
your  time  to  take  some  examples  out  of  creatures,  that  you 
may  see  if  God  be  taken  from  them  what  a  misery  there  is. 
Therefore,  there  is  nothing  good,  if  there  be  not  the  mercy 
of  God  ;  and  therefore  see  some  good  more  in  the  creature, 
in  all  the  help  you  receive  from  the  creature,  namely,  God 
in  it :  as  men  use  to  do  when  they  draw  out  the  marrow 
out  of  the  bone,  and  then  they  will  leave  the  bone  unto  the 
dogs.  Truly,  this  should  be  the  wisdom,  and  it  is  the  hap- 
piness of  the  saints  of  God.  Wicked  men  have  the  crea- 
tures, but  O,  the  marrow  of  the  faithfulness  and  truth,  that 
doth  God  dispense  unto  his !  Be  sure  to  look  unto  t/ia^  ; 
have  thou  //w  God!  And  take  thou  the  God  of  wealth — 
leave  thou  the  bone  unto  the  covetous  man.  Take  thou  the 
God  of  honor — leave  the  bone  unto  the  ambitious  man. 
Have  thou  the  God  of  pleasure, — and  leave  the  bone  unto 
the  voluptuous  man.  This  is  the  happiness  of  a  godly  man ; 
to  take  God  out  of  the  creature  and  let  not  the  creature  come 
near  his  heart 

"  It  was  a  sad,  sharp  winter  with  us  in  these  western  parts, 
that  many  lost  their  lives,  not  only  cattle,  but  men.  But  the 
Lord  delivered  us.  Men  concluded  it,  many  affirmed  it, 
never  any  vessel  came  to  these  parts ;  but  the  Lord  brought 
it  safe.  Nay,  if  you  had  heard  what  a  battle  of  men's  tongues 
there  was  against  it ;  why,  the  merchant  that  brought  it,  the 


^*  The  sermon  was  transcribed  (possibly  from  Mr.  Hooker's  notes,  and  possi- 
bly from  short-hand  notes  of  his  own)  by  Deacon  Matthew  Grant  of  Windsor; 
and  a  portion  of  it,  copied  from  his  painfully  difficult  manuscript  by  Dr.  J.  H. 
Trumbull,  was  published  in  the  Ha7-tford  Evening  Press,  of  Nov.  28,  i860,  from 
which  the  extracts  above  are  taken. 


q6  the   first   church   in   HARTFORD.        [1636-1647. 

master  that  guided  it,  the  passengers  that  freighted  it,  it  was 
the  Lord,  brethren,  that  brought  it,  it  was  the  Lord  that 
guided  it  ;  and  truly,  had  it  not  been  for  the  Lord  we  might 
have  perished.  Yea,  we  might  have  perished  for  want  ;  but 
the  Lord  sent  us,  as  it  were,  drink  out  of  the  rock  and  meat 
from  the  ravens, — the  Indians,  that  they  should  bring  provi- 
sion and  leave  it  here  ;  it  was  the  Lord  that  brought  it ! 
That  a  company  of  poor  men  should  with  a  boat  fall  upon 
such  a  place,  and  then  prepare  for  others'  coming, — it  was 
the  Lord  that  did  it !  If  anything  could  have  hindered, 
either  by  truth  or  falsehood,  to  keep  men  from  coming  to 
these  parts  hitherto,  it  had  been  done  ;  but  yet,  notwithstand- 
ing, men's  minds  informed,  their  consciences  convicted,  their 
hearts  persuaded  to  come  and  to  plant.  It  is  the  Lord's 
doing,  because  his  mercy  endureth  forever ! 

"  The  time  unseasonable,  the  winter  hard,  the  corn  grown 
not, — we  could  not  expect  but  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was 
gone  out  against  us  ;  and  truly,  it  may  be  it  was  so.  O,  it 
was  because  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  endureth  forever,  that 
the  Lord  hath  preserved  us, — against  the  malice  of  devils, 
the  envy  of  men,  and  the  perverseness  of  those  which  seemed 

to  fear  God Let  us,  when  we  have  seen  the  Lord  in 

all, — the  Lord  in  the  sending  of  the  ship  and  we  not  aware 
of  it, — the  Lord  in  bringing  us  safe,  in  giving  us  provisions, 
....  labour  to  have  a  heart  more  near  unto  Him,  more 
endeared  unto  him.  In  all  those  dealings  of  His,  every 
expression  of  God's  providence,  it  should  have  a  touch  or  a 
turn,  as  it  were,  upon  the  soul,  to  draw  the  heart  toward 
him.  Like  as  it  is  with  a  loadstone,  if  you  apply  it  much 
and  rub  it  long  upon  a  loadstone, — as  it  is  in  the  point  of  a 
compass, — it  will  turn  north  and  stand  north  ;  and  the  deeper 
the  impression   is,  the  more   nimbly  it  stirs  itself,  and  the 

longer  it  stands  northward All  outward  comforts  we 

should  use  as  men  when  that  they  make  a  mount,  it  is  to 
ascend  higher ;  we  should  make  a  mound,  and  be  nearer  to 
God  by  these,  that  something  of  a  heaven,  of  a  God  may 
come  into  our  hearts.     The  younger  bird,  when  she  comes 


1636-1647-]  THE    HUTCHINSON   AFFAIR.  g^ 

out  of  her  nest,  every  branch  is  a  step  to  her,  till  she  comes 
to  the  top.  So,  from  step  to  step,  let  thy  soul  go,  till  it 
comes  wholly  unto  God." 

But  not  even  the  exigencies  of  war  and  threatened  famine 
could  divert  the  attention  of  those  early  planters  of  the 
churches  in  the  wilderness  from  questions  of  theology.  On 
the  5th  of  August,  following  the  Pequot  slaughter  in  May, 
Mr,  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  arrived  in  Boston  to  attend  an 
ecclesiastical  Synod  upon  the  difficulties  which  had  arisen 
in  the  Bay  Colony,  and  especially  in  the  Boston  church,  by 
reason  of  the  peculiar  notions  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson  and 
her  brother-in-law,  Rev.  Mr.  Wheelwright.  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr. 
Pynchon,  and  others,  who  carried  the  Pequot  skins  and  scalps 
with  them,  went  also  as  delegates  on  the  same  business. 

The  trouble  had  begun  a  considerable  time  previous.  Mrs. 
Hutchinson  joined  the  Boston  church  on  November  2,  1634. 
At  that  time  some  objection  was  made  to  the  opinions  she 
held  and  had  expressed  on  the  voyage  over."'  But,  she 
seems  to  have  had  in  that  transaction,  as  well  as  in 
some  other  of  her  earlier  procedures,  the  support  of  Mr. 
Cotton,  who  had  stood  in  a  pastoral  relation  to  her  in  Eng- 
land. Her  husband  is  described  as  being  a  suitable  man  for 
a  strong-minded  woman,  "a  man  of  very  mild  temper  and 
weak  parts,  and  wholly  guided  by  his  wife."  She  was  soon  • 
followed  to  this  country  by  her  brother-in-law,  John  Wheel- 
wright, whom  it  was  speedily  proposed  to  associate  with  Mr. 
Wilson  and  Mr.  Cotton  in  the  care  of  the  Boston  church  ; 
a  project,  however,  which  failed.  Mrs.  Hutchinson  was  a 
woman  of  kind  heart,  quick  wits,  and  persuasive  address. 
Her  visitations  of  the  sick,  and  ministrations,  especially  in 
the  maternal  exigencies  of  her  sex,  won  for  her  the  affection 


^^  Hutchinson,  ii,  488,  493-4. 
13 


gS  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

and  sympathy  of  many.  She  soon  established  a  kind  of 
weekly  conference,  or  Bible-reading  as  it  would  now  be 
called,  at  which  she  gathered  a  large  number  of  women  and 
unfolded  her  peculiar  views,  and  criticised  the  ministers,  with 
the  exception  of  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wheelwright. 

Her  peculiar  views,  Winthrop  says,  were,  "  that  the  person 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  dwells  in  a  justified  one  ;  that  no  sancti- 
fication  can  help  to  evidence  to  us  our  justification."^'^  The 
language  is  archaic  in  modern  ears,  but  the  idea  is,  that  a 
kind  of  incarnation  of  the  Holy  Ghost  exists  in  every  Chris- 
tian, and  that  every  man's  evidence  that  he  is  a  Christian  is 
an  immediate  perception  of  that  fact,  and  not  at  all  any 
improvement  of  his  character.  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  doctrine 
was  that  to  look  to  any  signs,  like  love  of  the  truth  or  the 
transformation  of  the  conduct,  as  tokens  that  a  man  was  a 
saved  man,  was  to  be  under  a  "  covenant  of  works." 
The  "  covenant  of  grace "  demanded  that  every  Christian 
should  know  he  was  a  saved  man  by  an  immediate  intuition 
or  disclosure  of  the  fact. 

These  notions,  as  Winthrop  says,  had  "many  branches." 
They  led  out  into  exaggerated  ideas  of  the  possibility  of 
present  revelations,  and  into  depreciated  conceptions  of  the 
moral  virtues.  They  prompted  naturally  to  contemptuous 
estimates  of  the  value  of  learning  in  religious  matters,  and  to 
exalted  claims  to  immediate  inspiration.  The  seed  fell  into 
heated  soil.  The  whole  community  was  alive  with  the  excite- 
ment. Some  were  intoxicated  with  the  joys  of  personal 
assurance  of  salvation  ;  some,  wanting  the  declared  indis- 
pensable illumination,  were  overwhelmed  with  despair.  One 
woman  of  the  Boston  congregation,  in  particular,  long 
troubled  with  doubts,  was   driven   to  distraction,  and  threw 


^^  Winthrop,  i,  239. 


1636-1647-]  THE   HUTCHINSON   AFFAIR.  gg 

her  child  into  a  well,  saying,  "  Now  she  was  sure  she  should 
be  damned."  '' 

The  partisans  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson  were  cheered  by  the 
support  of  the  young  Governor,  Henry  Vane,  and  by  the  sup- 
posed sympathy  of  Mr.  Cotton  ;  and  they  rejoiced  in  pro- 
claiming themselves  the  representatives  of  a  peculiarly  free 
and  full  gospel.  They  claimed  that  under  the  direct  en- 
lightenment of  the  Spirit,  their  women  and  unlettered  men 
preached  better  than  the  "  black  coats  "  taught  in  the  "  Nin- 
nyversity " — a  designation  whose  feminine  and  Hutchinso- 
nian  origin  it  is  impossible  to  question.  The  matter  divided 
households,  and  entered  into  politics.  The  Hutchinson 
party  looked  coldly  on  the  efforts  to  assist  Connecticut  in  the 
Pequot  war,  alleging  that  the  Massachusetts  "  officers  and 
soldiers  were  too  much  under  a  covenant  of  works." 

The  churches  of  the  entire  Colony  were  turmoiled.  That 
of  Boston,  in  particular,  was  nearly  rent  asunder.  The  pas- 
tor, Mr.  Wilson,  supported  by  Mr.  Winthrop  and  a  few  others, 
was  on  the  one  side  ;  Mr.  Cotton  and  the  majority  of  the 
church  on  the  other.  A  meeting  of  the  Court  in  December, 
1636,  called  together  the  ministers  and  elders  to  consider  the 
troubles."  Mr.  Wilson  charged  the  difficulty  on  the  spread 
of  the  new  Hutchinsonian  opinions.  Whereupon,  his  church, 
led  by  Mr.  Cotton,  his  associate,  summoned  him  to  answer  for 
it  publicly. "" 

A  general  fast  was  observed  on  the  19th  of  January,  1637, 
in  view  of  the  "  dissension  in  the  churches  "  and  other  evils. 

Mr.  Wheelwright  took  advantage  of  the  occasion  to  cen- 
sure the  holders  of  anti-Hutchinsonian  views  as  "  Anti- 
christs."    The  Court  judged  him  to  be  guilty  of  sedition. 


7  /did,  i,  281. 
2»  Winthrop,  i,  248. 
29  /ii</,  250. 


100  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

The  Boston  church  tendered  a  petition  in  his  behalf.'"  The 
excitement  was  so  great  it  was  determined  to  hold  the 
next  Court  of  Election  away  from  Boston,  at  Newtown. 
At  that  next  Assembly,  which  was  on  the  17th  of  May — just 
as  the  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  soldiers  were  drawing 
near  to  the  Pequot  encampment — matters  came  near  to  phy- 
sical violence/'  Mr.  Wilson,  the  pastor  of  the  Boston  church, 
climbed  a  tree  in  the  field  where  the  voters  were  assembled, 
and  addressed  them  from  among  the  branches.^"  The  whole 
question  of  officers  for  the  Colony  turned  on  the  Hutchin- 
sonian  views.  The  result  showed  that  the  sympathizers, 
though  many,  were  in  a  minority.  Governor  Vane  lost  his 
election,  and  soon  returned  to  England. 

His  defeat  and  departure  removed  one  strong  pillar  of  the 
delusion.  Cooler  counsels  began  to  prevail.  A  day  of 
humiliation  was  appointed  in  the  churches  for  the  24th  of 
July.  So  that,  by  the  coming  of  August,  matters  were  in  a 
better  condition  for  deliberate  consideration.  In  April  pre- 
vious, Mr.  Hooker  had  written  to  Mr.  Shepard  of  Newtown 
— who  in  the  October  following  was  to  become  his  son-in-law 
— advising  against  a  Council  on  the  Hutchinsonian  matters. ^^ 
But  either  he  had  changed  his  views,  or  the  state  of  things 
had  changed,  for  we  have  seen  that  he  and  Mr.  Stone  and 
the  delegates  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  5  th  of  August.  The 
time,  till  August  30th,  was  spent  in  preliminary  consulta- 
tions, and  the  24th  was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer." 


30  Ibid,  258. 

2'  Ibid,  262. 

3^  Hutchinson,  i,  61,  note. 
^  Hutchinson,  i,  68. 
**  Winthrop,  i,  282. 


1636-1647.]  THE   HUTCHINSON   AFFAIR.  lOl 

The  Synod  opened  its  sessions  on  the  30th  of  August.  It 
*  was  composed  of  all  the  teaching  elders  in  the  country,  about 
twenty-five  in  number,  and  delegates  from  the  churches,  Mr. 
Shepard  opened  the  session  with  a  "  heavenly  prayer."  Rev. 
Peter  Bulkley,  of  Concord,  and  Mr.  Hooker,  of  Hartford, 
were  chosen  Moderators.  The  sessions  continued  twenty- 
two  days.  As  a  result  of  the  deliberations,  a  list  of  eighty- 
two  opinions,  more  or  less  intimately  connected  with  the 
recent  controversy,  were  condemned  as,  "some  blasphemous, 
others  erroneous,  and  all  unsafe."'' 

It  was  further  resolved,  with  special  reference  to   Mrs. 


^  Winthrop,  i,  284.  Some  of  these  condemned  opinions  are  curious  enough, 
and  some,  though  phrased  in  antique  style,  are  applicable  enough  to  modern 
times  to  justify  a  reproduction  of  a  few  of  them  here. 

"  4.  That  those  that  bee  in  Christ  are  not  under  the  law  and  commands  of 
the  Word,  as  the  rule  of  life." 

"  20.  That  to  call  in  question  whether  God  be  my  deare  Father,  after  or 
upon  the  commission  of  some  huinous  sinnes  (as  murther,  incest,  etc.),  doth 
prove  a  man  to  be  in  the  covenant  of  works." 

"  36.     All  the  activity  of  a  beleever  is  to  act  to  sinne." 

"  39.  The  due  search  and  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scripture  is  not  a  safe  and 
sure  way  of  finding  Christ." 

"  40.  There  is  a  testimony  of  the  Spirit,  and  voyce  unto  the  soule,  meerely 
immediate,  without  any  respect  unto  or  concurrence  with  the  Word." 

"  43.     The  Spirit  acts  most  in  the  saints  when  they  indevour  least." 

"  47.  The  scale  of  the  Spirit  is  limited  onely  to  the  immediate  witnesse  of 
the  Spirit,  and  doth  never  witnesse  to  any  worke  of  grace,  or  to  any  conclusion 
by  a  syllogisme." 

"  56.     A  man  is  not  effectually  converted  till  he  hath  full  assurance." 

"  57.  To  take  delight  in  the  holy  service  of  God  is  to  go  a  whoring  from 
God." 

"  62.     It  is  a  dangerous  thing  to  close  with  Christ  in  a  promise." 

"  64.  A  man  must  take  no  notice  of  his  sinne,  nor  of  his  repentance  for  his 
sinne." 

"  70.  Frequency  or  length  of  holy  duties,  or  trouble  of  conscience  for  neglect 
thereof,  are  all  signes  of  one  under  a  covenant  of  workes." 

"  72.  It  is  a  fundamental!  and  soule-damning  errour  to  make  sanctification 
an  evidence  of  justification." 

"  77.  Sanctification  is  so  farre  from  evidencing  a  good  estate,  that  it  darkens 
it  rather  ;  and  a  man  may  more  clearely  see  Christ  when  he  seeth  no  sanctifica- 
tion than  when  he  doth ;  'the  darker  my  sanctification  is,  the  brighter  is  my 
justification." 


102  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

Hutchinson's  Bible-reading  meetings,  that  though  females, 
meeting  "some  few  together"  for  prayer  and  edification 
might  be  allowed,  yet  that  "a  set  assembly  where  sixty 
or  more  did  meet  every  week,  and  one  woman  took  upon 
her  the  whole  exercise,"  was  "disorderly  and  without  rule."  ^"^ 

The  Assembly  broke  up  on  the  22d  of  September,  and  on 
the  following  26th,  Mr.  Davenport,  afterward  of  New  Haven, 
preached  by  its  appointment  a  sermon  of  gratulation  and 
good  counsel.  The  expenses  of  the  delegates  at  Newtown 
and  in  travel  from  Connecticut  were  paid  at  the  Colonial 
charge.''  And  so  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  had  chance 
to  go  back  to  Hartford,  after  more  than  two  months  absence, 
during  which  time,  doubtless,  Ruling-Elder  Goodwin  had 
"  exercised  by  way  of  prophesy  "  in  their  place. 

Poor  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  the  enthusiastic,  kind-hearted, 
pious,  and  very  erroneous  cause  of  all  these  disturbances, 
was  soon  after  called  before  the  Court  for  continuing  her 
"  disorderly "  meetings  and  promulgating  her  condemned 
opinions.  She  was,  awhile,  committed  to  Mr.  Cotton's  care 
to  be  reasoned  with  by  him  and  Mr.  Davenport;  but  when 
was  ever  woman  so  convinced  .'*  With  her  sex's  ability  to 
turn  a  sharp  corner,  not  to  say  to  prevaricate,  she  said  some- 
times one  thing  and  sometimes  another.  So  that  on  the 
15th  May,  1638,  she  was  excommunicated  from  the  church 
for  "  impenitently  persisting  in  a  manifest  lye,"  and  on  the 
28th,  was  banished  from  the  Colony.'"  The  exiled  woman, 
whom  the  eye  of  modern  sympathy  follows  with  regret,  soon 
after  became  a  widow ;  moved  to  the  Dutch  frontier  ;  and  was, 
about  six  years  later,  with  all  her  children  but  one  of  eight 
years,  killed  by  the  Indians.     Her  views  were  exaggerated 


36  Winthrop,  i,  p.  286. 

3-  Ibid,  28S. 

**  Ibid,  310-31 1. 


1636-1647I  FUNDAMENTAL   LAWS.  IO3 

and  false,  and  her  procedures,  in  the  condition  of  the  times, 
exasperating  and  probably  dangerous,  but  it  may  be  hoped 
and  believed  that  Heaven  was  wide  enough  for  her  after  all. 

Returned  to  Hartford,  the  Pastor  and  Teacher  doubtless 
took  their  due  share  in  the  stirring  interests  of  the  town  and 
Colony.  It  was  in  the  spring  after  this  return  that  the  first 
steps  for  the  new  meeting-house,  before  spoken  of,  to  take 
the  place  of  the  temporary  structure  they  now  used,  were 
set  forward.  The  same  year,  1638,  witnessed  the  prelim- 
inary proceedings,  very  imperfectly  recorded,  of  one  of  the 
most  interesting  events  in  all  civil  history — the  establish- 
ment of  a  written  constitution  for  the  government  of  the 
Colony ;  the  "  first  written  constitution,"  it  has  been  called, 
"in  the  history  of  nations."  '" 

The  common  affairs  of  these  towns  along  the  River  had 
at  first  been  conducted  by  a  provisional  government  under 
Massachusetts  authority.  But  the  term  of  that  commission 
having  expired,  a  General  Court  of  the  towns  took  its  place. 
At  some  time  in  1638  a  General  Court  was  elected  for  the 
purpose  of  framing  a  body  of  laws  for  the  permanent  govern- 
ment of  the  Colony.  The  deliberations  of  the  assembly  thus 
chosen  have  perished.  We  know  only  the  result,  which 
arrived  at  the  authority  of  Fundamental  Laws  on  the  14th  of 
January,  1639.'" 

That  charter  of  public  rule  was  a  document  far  in 
advance  of  anything  the  world  had  ever  seen,  in  its  recogni- 
tion of  the  origin  of  all  civil  authority  as  derived,  under 
God,  from  the  agreement  and  covenant  of  the  whole  body 
of  the  governed.  Such  a  "  Combination  and  Confederation 
together  ...  to  be  guided  and  governed  according  to  such 


^^  Bacon's  General  Conference  AddresSy  p.  150. 
*^  Col.  Records,  i,  p.  25. 


I04  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

Lawes,  Rules,  Orders,  and  decrees  as  shall  be  made,  ordered 
&  decreed,""  marks  a  reckoning  point  in  the  history  and 
science  of  government." 

But  the  chief  interest  in  this  matter,  so  far  as  the  present 
chronicle  is  concerned,  is  not  a  scientific  one,  or  even  a 
historic  one,  reckoned  from  the  point  of  the  concerns  of 
civil  administration  only.  The  interest  of  the  subject,  as 
connected  with  this  Church  survey,  now  in  hand,  is  two  fold : 
It  is,  first,  that  the  form  of  civil  government  here  established 
was  simply  an  extension  to  the  domain  of  secular  affairs  of 
the  principles  already  adopted  in  religious  matters  —  the 
mutual  covenant  and  agreement  of  those  associated,  as  under 
God  the  ultimate  law.  And,  second,  and  more  particularly, 
because  of  the  agency  in  leading  on  to  the  establishment  of 


*'  Ibid,  p.  21. 

*'  Too  much,  however,  must  not  be  inferred  from  this  statement.  The 
"  whole  body  of  the  governed  "  was  not  understood  to  include  all  sorts  of  men. 
The  General  Court,  in  August,  1657,  passed  the  following  order :  "  This  Court 
being  duly  sencible  of  the  danger  this  Comonwealth  is  in  of  being  poisoned  in 
their  iudgm'  &  principles  by  some  loathsome  Heretickes,  whether  Quakers, 
Ranters,  Adamites,  or  some  others  like  them,  It  is  ordered  and  decreed  that 
noe  Towne  or  person  therein  w"'in  this  Jurisdiction  shall  give  any  vnnecessary 
entertainm'  to  any  of  the  aforesaid  knowne  hereticks,  vpon  penalty  of  five 
pounds  for  each  Hereticque  enterteined,  to  bee  paid  by  that  inhabitant  which 
gieus  such  entertainment  to  them  or  either  of  them,  &  fiue  pounds  a  weeke  for 
each  Hereticke,  to  bee  paid  by  each  Towne  that  shall  suffer  the  entertainm'  of 
any  such  Hereticks,  as  also  5/.  a  person  that  shall  vnnecessarily  speake  more 
or  lesse  w'''  any  of  the  aforesaid  Hereticks,  except  the  Magistrate,  Assistants, 
Eld''^  or  Constable  in  this  Jurisdiction ;  all  W^''  fines  to  bee  paid  to  the  publicke 
Treasury.  Also,  it  is  ordered,  that  any  Magistrate,  Assistant  or  Constable,  in 
each  plantation  vpon  any  suspicion  of  any  person  to  bee  such  an  Hereticke, 
shall,  with  the  helpe  of  their  Eld''  or  Eld'*  in  each  plantation  examine  the  said 
suspected  person  or  persons,  &  if  vpon  examination  hee  or  they  judge  any  to 
bee  such  Heretickes,  the  said  Magistrate,  Assistants  or  Constable  shall  forthw"' 
send  them  to  prizon,  or  out  of  this  Jurisdiction."  Col.  Rec,  p.  303,  vol.  i.  The 
modern  idea  of  toleration  of  religious  dissent  must  not  be  looked  for  too  early. 
The  union  of  Church  and  State  was  as  complete  in  early  New  England  as  it, 
was  in  Old  England.  The  type  of  ecclesiastic  rule  was  altered,  but  the  State 
was  looked  to,  to  back  up  the  new  type  as  efficiently  as  in  the  home  land  it  had 
the  old.  Hence  "  Heretiques  "  had  no  recognized  place  in  the  "  Combination 
and  Confederation." 


1636  1647-1  FUNDAMENTAL   LAWS.  IO5 

this  principle  in  the  Fundamental  Laws  of  this  Colony,  of 
the  wise  and  far-sighted  Pastor  of  this  Church.  We  are 
indebted  for  the  discovery  of  definite  evidence  of  this  agency 
— though  it  might  have  been  antecedently  conjectured  from 
all  that  we  know  of  the  man  who  exercised  it — to  the  skill 
and  research  of  the  distinguished  antiquarian  scholar,  J,  H. 
Trumbull."  The  evidence  lay  undiscovered  more  than  two 
and  a  quarter  centuries  in  a  little,  almost  undecipherable 
volume  of  manuscript,  written  by  a  young  man — Mr.  Henry 
Wolcott,  jr.,  born  January,  16 10 — in  the  neighbor  town  of. 
Windsor.  The  volume  contains  notes  in  cipher  of  sermons 
and  lectures  preached  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Warham  and  Huit 
of  Windsor,  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Hooker  and  Stone  of  Hart- 
ford. In  it  is  found  an  abstract  of  Mr.  Hooker's  lecture 
given  on  "Thursday,  May  31,  1638,  at  an  adjourned  session, 
probably  of  the  April  Court ;  and  apparently  designed  to 
lead  the  way  to  the  general  recognition  of  the  great  truths 
which  were  soon  to  be  successfully  incorporated  in  the 
Fundamental  Laws.""  The  following  is  the  deciphered 
abstract  of  the  sermon  : 

Text:  Deut.  i,  13.  "Take  you  wise  men,  and  understand- 
ing, and  known  among  your  tribes,  and  I  will  make  them 
rulers  over  you."  Captains  over  thousands,  and  captains 
over  hundreds — over  fifties — over  tens,  etc. 

Doctnne.  I.  That  the  choice  of  public  magistrates  belongs 
unto  the  people  by  God's  own  allowance. 

H.  The  privilege  of  election  which  belongs  unto  the 
people,  therefore,  must  not  be  exercised  according  to  their 
humors,  but  according  to  the  blessed  will  and  law  of  God. 

III.  They  who  have  power  to  appoint  officers  and  magis- 


'  *3  See  Dr.  Trumbull's  account  of  the  matter.     Conn.  Historical  Soc.   Col., 
vol.  i,  19. 

**  Ibid,  pp.  19,  20. 
14 


I06  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

trates,  it  is  in  their  power,  also,  to  set  the  bounds  of  the 
power  and  place  unto  which  they  call  them. 

Reasons,  i.  Because  the  foundation  of  authority  is  laid, 
firstly,  in  the  free  consent  of  the  people. 

2.  Because,  by  a  free  choice  the  hearts  of  the  people  will 
be  more  inclined  to  the  love  of  the  persons  [chosen],  and 
more  ready  to  yield  [obedience]. 

3.  Because  of  that  duty  and  engagement  of  the  people. 
Uses.     The  lesson  taught  is  threefold : — 

1st.  There  is  matter  of  thankful  acknowledgment  in  the 
[appreciation]  of  God's  faithfulness  towards  us  and  the  per- 
mission of  these  measures  that  God  doth  commend  and 
vouchsafe. 

2dly.  Of  reproof — to  dash  the  conceits  of  all  those  that 
shall  oppose  it. 

3dly.  Of  exhortation — to  persuade  us  as  God  hath  given 
us  liberty,  to  take  it. 

And  lastly.  As  God  hath  spared  our  lives,  and  given  us 
them  in  liberty,  so  to  seek  the  guidance  of  God,  and  to 
choose  in  God  and  for  God." 

The  doctrine  was  adapted  to  the  auditors  and  to  the  time. 
It  was  harmonious  with  the  experiences  and  the  teachings  of 
Providence  in  which  the  hearers  had  been  led.  But  its 
statement  was  a  novelty  in  politics,  not  the  less.  Dr.  Bacon 
says  of  it:  "That  sermon  by  Thomas  Hooker  from  the 
pulpit  of  the  First  Church  in  Hartford,  is  the  earliest  known 
suggestion  of  a  fundamental  law,  enacted  not  by  royal  charter, 
nor  by  concession  from  any  previously  existing  government, 
but  by  the  people  themselves  —  a  primary  and  supreme  law 
by  which  the  government  is  constituted,  and  which  not  only 
provides  for  the  free  choice  of  magistrates  by  the  people,  but 
also  '  sets  the  bounds  and  limitations  of  the  power  and  place 
to  which'  each  magistrate  is  called."" 


"^^  Ibid,  pp.  20-21. 

'^^  Centennial  Conference  Address,  pp.  152-153. 


1636-1647.]  EARLY   EVENTS.  IO7 

Eight  months  later,  the  fundamental  laws  embodying  these 
principles  for  the  first  time  in  human  history,  were  "sentenced, 
ordered,  and  decreed."  It  is  impossible  not  to  recognize  the 
Master  hand.  The  Pastor  of  the  Hartford  Church  was  Con- 
necticut's great  Legislator,  also. 

In  the  May  following  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution  by 
Connecticut,  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Haynes,^'  the  Governor  of 
the  Colony,  were  in  Boston,  on  the  business  of  securing  a 
treaty  of  confederation  with  Massachusetts  ;  remaining  there 
"near  a  month.""  It  was  during  this  visit  to  the  Bay  that 
this  curious  incident  occurred,  which  is  recorded  by  Winthrop : 
"Mr.  Hooker  being  to  preach  at  Cambridge,  the  governour 
[Winthrop]  and  many  others  went  to  hear  him,  (though  the 
governour  did  very  seldom  go  from  his  own  congregation  upon 
the  Lord's  Day).  He  preached  in  the  afternoon,  and  having 
gone  on,  with  much  strength  of  voice  and  intention  of  spirit, 
about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  he  was  at  a  stand,  and  told  the 
people  that  God  had  deprived  him  both  of  his  strength  and 
matter,  etc.,  and  so  went  forth,  and  about  half  an  hour 
after  returned  again,  and  went  on  to  very  good  purpose 
about  two  hours.'"' 

The  same  year,  1639,  saw  the  organization  of  the  church 
at  New  Haven,  on  the  22d  of  August.  Tradition  has  it  that 
at  the  subsequent  induction  of  Mr.  Davenport  as  pastor,  Mr. 
Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  were  present  as  representatives  of 
the  Hartford  church,  and  took  part  in  the  services.'" 


*'  John  Haynes  came  to  New  England  in  the  Griffiji,  with  Mr.  Hooker.  He 
had  a  residence  at  Copford  Hall,  in  Essex,  England,  and  was  a  man  of  large 
wealth.  He  was  chosen  Governor  of  Massachusetts  in  1635.  ^^  came  to 
Connecticut  in  1637.  After  the  organization  of  the  government  in  1639,  under 
the  Fundamental  Laws,  he  was  chosen  governor,  and  was  chosen  every  alternate 
year  afterwards  till  his  death,  in  1653. 

■•^  Winthrop,  i,  360. 

*9/^/d',  366. 

siJ  Trumbull,  i,  285. 


I08  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

In  the  paucity  of  personal  incidents  recoverable  in  these 
early  days,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  notice  that  in  1641  Mr. 
Stone,  the  Teacher,  brought  home  from  Boston  with  him  a 
wife,  dismissed  by  letter  to  this  church  from  the  church 
there,  on  the  25th  of  July."'  In  view  of  which  exigent  expe- 
rience on  the  Teacher's  part  it  was,  probably,  that  the  town 
voted,  at  about  that  time,  that  "there  shall  be  five  pounds 
added  to  Mr.  Stone  for  this  half  year."  '''^  So,  too,  there  came 
this  year  into  the  membership  of  this  church  the  only  person, 
probably,  ever  connected  with  it  who  popularly  wore  a  title 
of  English  rank — Lady  Fenwick,  as  she  is  called."  She 
brought  her  young  child  with  her  for  baptism,  and  found  her 
premature  grave,  four  years  after,  at  Saybrook." 

A  little  later  than  this  appears  on  the  public  records  of 
the  Colony""  one  of  the  earliest  of  those  instances  of  the 


**'  Boston  First  Church  Records :  "  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Stone,  formerly  called 
Mrs.  Eliza  Allen,  but  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Stone,  the  teacher  of  the 
Church  of  Hartford,  in  Conn.,  was  granted  letters  of  recommendation  thither." 
This  lady  was  the  ancestress  of  several  present  members  of  the  First  Church  in 
Hartford.  Mr.  Stone  had  been  married  before ;  his  first  wife  dying  in  1640 
(see  Mr.  Hooker's  letter  to  Shepard,  of  Nov.  2,  1640),  having,  as  Mr.  Hooker 
says,  "  smoaked  out  her  days  in  the  darkness  of  melancholy."  Who  she  was,  or 
what  she  suffered  beyond  this  sad  memorial,  or  whether  she  came  with  Mr. 
Stone  from  England,  as  is  probable,  is  matter  of  conjecture. 

^2  Town  Records. 

^3  Lechford''s  Plaine  Dealing,  Trumbull's  Ed.,  p.  98.  Mrs.  George  Fenwick  was 
the  daughter. of  Sir  Edward  Apsley,  and  had  been  the  widow  of  Sir  John 
Boteler.  And  so,  as  wife  of  Mr.  George  Fenwick,  she,  by  a  quite  liberal  cour- 
tesy, was  called  Lady  Fenwick.  She  so  appears  in  local  traditions,  and  her 
monument  at  Saybrook  is  looked  on  with  a  certain  romance  from  the  popular 
designation.  See  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull's  address  at  the  re-interment  of  Lady 
Fenwick's  remains.     Hist.  Mag.,  vol.  xi.x,  p.  151. 

^*  She  joined  the  Hartford  church  because  none  was  then  in  existence  at 
Saybrook.  One  was  founded  there  in  1646,  and  Mr.  James  Fitch,  who  had 
studied  divinity  with  Mr.  Hooker,  was  made  Pastor.  The  tradition  is  that, 
though  Mr.  Hooker  was  present,  ordination  was  given  by  laying  on  the  hands 
of  two  or  three  of  the  brethren  designated  by  the  church  for  the  purpose. 
Trumbull,  i,  286. 

^'•^  Col.  Records,  vol.  i,  pp.  106,  ill. 


1636-1647.]  ECCLESIASTICAL  AFFAIRS.  lOg 

interference  of  the  civil  government  with  the  ecclesiastical 
procedures  of  churches,  so  foreign  to  our  present  view  of  the 
appropriate  boundaries  of  the  jurisdiction  of  each,  but  which 
we  shall  have  occasion  to  see  were  so  characteristic  of  Con- 
necticut's history  for  more  than  a  hundred  years. 

Mathew  Allyn,  a  prominent  inhabitant  and  an  original  set- 
tler, petitioned  the  General  Court,  June  3,  1644,  against  the 
sentence  of  excommunication  pronounced  against  him  by  the 
Church  at  Hartford.  The  nature  of  Mr.  Allyn's  offence 
does  not  appear,  but  it  seems  not  to  have  forfeited  him  the 
good  esteem  of  his  townsmen,  who  elected  him  many  fol- 
lowing years  to  public  trusts.  Nevertheless  the  Court  judged 
that  in  so  petitioning  against  the  Church  Mr.  Allyn  "layd  an 
accusation  vppon  the  Church"  which  he  was  bound  to  prove, 
and  called  on  him  to  do  so.  He  had  not  done  so  by  the  25th 
of  October  following,  whereupon  the  Court  reiterated  its 
demand  for  proof,  and  summoned  him  to  answer  for  his  con- 
tempt, in  neglecting  the  previous  order.^'  How  Mr.  Allyn 
succeeded  in  settling  his  difficulties  does  not  appear. 

This  efficient  backing  up  of  church-discipline  by  the  civil 
government  was,  however,  a  significant  illustration  of  the 
vague  views  of  the  founders  as  to  that  principle  of  separa- 
tion of  Church  and  State,  which  has  become  elementary  in 
modern  thought  in  this  country. 

Meantime  events  were  moving  on  in  England.  The  Par- 
liament, known  as  the  Long  Parliament,  was  in  session. 
Laud,  who  had  been  the  chief  agent  in  driving  out  of  the 
old  country  a  considerable  portion  of  the  ministers  in  New 
England,  was  put  in  prison  in  1641.  The  issue  between 
King  and  Parliament  was  made.  One  or  the  other  was  to 
break. 

'"^ Ibid,  106,  HI. 


no  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1636-1647. 

The  ecclesiastical  constitution  of  things,  disordered  by  the 
conflicting  judgments  of  the  various  parties  in  religious 
ai^airs,  was  sorely  in  need  of  healing.  Presbyterianism,  Inde- 
pendency, and  Episcopalianism  were  forms  of  ecclesiastical 
rule,  vigorously  contended  for,  though  with  very  unequal 
numerical  following.  In  this  state  of  things  a  General 
Assembly  was  ordered  by  Parliament,"  and,  being  contem- 
plated, the  American  exiles  were  not  forgotten.  A  letter 
from  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  Oliver  Crom- 
well, and  some  thirty-seven  other  members  of  Parliament, 
"  who  stood  for  the  independency  of  the  churches,"  was  sent 
to  New  England,  inviting  Mr.  Cotton,  Mr.  Hooker,  and  Mr, 
Davenport  to  "  assist  in  the  Synod."  '"  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr. 
Davenport  were  inclined  to  go.  Mr.  Hooker  discerned  the 
relative  numerical  weakness  of  the  Independent  party  in  Eng- 
land, and  with  characteristic  sagacity  thought  it  unwise  "  to 
go  3,000  miles  to  agree  with  three  men  (meaning  those  min- 
isters who  were  for  independency.) "  "^  Other  letters,  arriving 
soon  after,  advised  against  the  coming,  and  the  matter  fell 
through,  justifying  the  wisdom  of  Mr.  Hooker's  first  opinion. 

This  Assembly,  which  has  passed  into  history  as  the  West- 
minster Assembly,  was  preponderantly  Presbyterian,  and  the 
Presbyterian  party  grew  stronger  as  the  Assembly  advanced. 


^■^  As  early  as  1641  the  London  ministers  proposed  to  Parliament  the  calling 
of  an  Assembly,  and  in  December,  1641,  the  Commons  mentioned  it  among 
the  complaints  in  their  Grand  Remonstrance.  A  bill 'was  passed  for  the  pur- 
pose.October  15, 1642,  but  failed  for  want  of  the  Royal  assent.  The  final  order  for 
it,  without  the  King's  concurrence,  was  June  12,  1643.  The  King,  by  procla- 
mation, forbade  the  meeting,  and  threatened  to  deprive  of  their  livings  those 
who  disobeyed.  This  substantially  prevented  the  "  loyal "  portion  of  the 
Episcopalians  from  attending.  The  Assembly  met  July  i,  1643,  ^^'^  closed 
February  22,  1649,  holding,  in  all,  eleven  hundred  and  sixty-three  sessions. 

^^  Winthrop,  ii,  91-92. 

^^  The  "  three  men  "  in  the  Assembly  "  who  stood  for  independency  "  were, 
in  fact,  five  from  the  outset,  Thomas  Goodwin,  Philip  Nye,  Jeremiah  Bur- 
roughs, William  Bridge,  and  Sydrach  Simpson.  As  the  sessions  went  on  their 
numbers  doubled.     But  they  were  in  a  hopeless  minority. 


1636-1647-]  ECCLESIASTICAL   AFFAIRS.  ju 

This  was  not  without  its  effect  over  here  in  New  England. 
It  gave  new  vigor  and  encouragement  to  a  few  ministers  in 
the  Massachusetts  Colony,  whose  views  were  in  accordance 
with  that  form  of  polity,  more  than  with  the  "  Congregational 
way"  around  them.  The  two  admirable  ministers  of  the 
church  in  Newbury,  Mass. — Thomas  Parker,  the  pastor,  and 
James  Noyes,  the  teacher — strongly  sympathized  with  most 
of  the  Presbyterian  principles,  and  did  not  scruple  to  preach 
their  opinions. 

Fearful  of  the  spread  of  dissensions,  which  had  already 
arisen  in  the  Newbury  Church,""  it  was  deemed  best  to 
hold  a  Synod  at  Cambridge  to  emphasize  the  Congregational 
principles.  The  Synod  met  in  September  1643,  and  was 
composed  of  "  all  the  elders  in  the  country,"  about  fifty  in 
number.  Here  again,  as  in  the  Synod  of  1637,  ^^-  Hooker 
was  one  of  the  two  moderators.  His  associate  at  this  time 
was  Mr.  Cotton.  The  members  sat  in  "  the  college,  and 
had  their  diet  there  after  the  manner  of  scholars'  commons, 
but  somewhat  better,  yet  so  ordered  that  it  came  not  above 
sixpence  the  meal  for  a  person The  assembly  con- 
cluded against  some  parts  of  the  presbyterial  way,  and  the 
Newbury  ministers  took  time  to  consider  the  arguments.'""" 

But  apparently  the  conclusions  arrived  at  were  not  com- 
prehensive enough  or  deliberate  enough  to  be  regarded  as 
satisfactory.  The  party  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  Westmin- 
ster Assembly,  still  in  session,  was  growing ;  Parliament  was 
obviously  moving  on  to  the  adoption  of  Presbyterianism  as 
the  established  religion  of  England  ;  and  there  was  danger 


^•^  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  pp.  72,  115. 

''' Winthrop,  ii,  165.  The  "Newbury  ministers"  were  not  convinced,  as 
is  shown  in  the  pamphlet  published  by  Mr.  Noyes  some  years  afterward,  enti- 
tled "  The  Temple  Measured; "  a  Presbyterian  treatise  save  in  the  matter  of 
ruling  elders,  who  are  not  recognized  as  "  distinct  officers  in  the  churches." 


112  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

that  if  SO  established  it  would  be  imposed  by  authority  on 
New  England  as  well.  It  was  time  to  come  to  a  definite 
agreement  against  such  a  not  improbable  event. 

A  meeting'"  was  convened  at  Cambridge,  July  i,  1645,  ^^ 
which  it  was  agreed  to  send  over  to  England  for  publication 
and  reading  there,  certain  treatises  in  defence  of  the  "  Congre- 
gational way,"  and  against  the  "  Presbyterial,"  which  had 
been  written  by  several  of  the  New  England  ministers,  in 
reply  to  Presbyterian  documents  sent  from  England  here. 
Among  these  books  were  Davenport's  answer  to  Paget, 
known  as  the  Pozver  of  Congregational  ChurcJics,  and  Mr. 
Hooker's  Survey  of  tJic  Snmme  of  Church  Discipline,  in 
reply  to  Rutherford's  Due  Right  of  Presbyteries." 

These  books  had  a  curious  history.  They  were  sent  in 
a  vessel  which  sailed  from  New  Haven,  in  January  1646, 
with  many  passengers,  and  which  was  never  heard  from 
afterward,  save  in  that  spectral  phantom  of  a  ship  which, 
two  years  and  five  months  later,  appeared  sailing  into  New 
Haven  harbor,  and  then,  in  the  sight  of  a  crowd  of  witnesses, 
vanished  into  smoke.  A  vision  which  John  Davenport 
declared  God  had  given  for  the  quieting  of  the  afflicted 
spirits  of  those  who  wondered  where  the  lost  vessel,  and  its 
precious  conveyance  of  lives,  had  gone." 

Convinced  of  the  loss  of  the  manuscripts,  the  two  authors, 
Davenport  and  Hooker,  re-wrote  them — though  Hooker  his 
with  great  reluctance — and  they  were  again  sent  over  and 
published ;  Hooker's,  however,  not  till  after  his  death. 


82  Winthrop's  account  of  this  meeting  (ii,  304)  says  "the  elders  of  the 
churches  through  all  the  United  Colonies  agreed  upon  a  meeting  at  Cambridge 
this  day,  when  they  conferred  their  councils,  and  examined  the  writings  which 
some  of  them  had  prepared  ....  which,  being  agreed  and  perfected,  were  sent 
over  into  England  to  be  printed." 

''^Bacon's  Historical  Discourses,  p.  107. 


1636-1647-]  ECCLESIASTICAL  AFFAIRS.  u^ 

By  May,  1646,  the  danger  of  a  subversion  of  the  ecclesias- 
tical usages  of  the  Colonies  seemed  so  imminent  that  the 
Court  of  Massachusetts  moved  for  a  General  Synod  "to 
discusse,  dispute  &  cleare  up  by  the  word  of  God,  such 
questions  of  Church  governm'^  &  discipline,"  as  had  been 
before  spoken  of,  and  others  "as  they  shall  thinke  needful  & 
meete;"  and  invited  the  ministers  and  churches  of  "Plimoth, 
Connecticott  &  Newe-Haven,"  on  the  same  terms  of  "lib'"ty 
&  poW  of  disputing  and  voting"  as  the  Massachusetts  min- 
isters and  messengers."^  The  proposition  was  received  with 
general  acceptance ;  though  with  demurrer  on  the  part  of  the 
Boston  and  Salem  churches,  and  some  others,  as  a  trespass 
of  the  civil  authority  upon  the  ecclesiastical  domain,"  But 
most  of  them  finally  gave  adhesion,  and  the  ist  of  September 
found  all  but  four  of  the  Massachusetts  churches,  and  a  con- 
siderable number  of  those  from  the  other  Colonies,  in  session 
at  Cambridge,  in  what  is  now  called,  by  way  of  preeminence, 
the  Cambridge  Synod;  the  best  remembered  of  all  the  early 
New  England  assemblies,  and  from  which  the  well-known 
Platform  of  Church  Polity  receives  its  name. 

Mr.  Hooker,  however,  was  not  there.  His  colleague,  Mr. 
Stone,  was  present,  and  Dea.  Edward  Stebbins,  whom  Mr. 
Hooker  calls  "my  cousin  Stebbings";  but  the  Pastor  was 
absent.  He  had  written  to  his  son-in-law,  Shepard,  the 
month  before,  "My  yeares  and  infirmityes  grow  so  fast  vpon 
me,  yt  wholly  disenable  me  to  so  long  a  journey ;  and  because 
I  cannot  come  myself,  I  provoke  as  many  elders  as  I  can  to 
lend  their  help  and  presence.  The  Lord  Christ  be  in  the 
midest  among  you  by  his  guidance  and  blessing."" 


0*  Mass.  Col.  Rec,  ii,  1 55. 
®s  Winthrop,  ii,  329-332. 
66  Felt,  ^<rf/.  Hist.,  1,612,. 
15 


114  ^^^   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1636-1647. 

Mr,  Hooker  had  made  the  journey  from  Hartford  to  Boston 
and  back,  on  public  business,  certainly  three  times,  and  prob- 
ably four  or  more."  It  was  still  a  roadless  wilderness,  to  be 
traversed  only  on  horseback;  with  a  nightly  encampment  on 
the  ground,  under  the  open  skies,  by  the  way.  It  is  not 
strange  that,  interested  though  he  was  in  the  Synod,  he 
shrank  from  the  repeated  pilgrimages. 

The  assembly  continued  in  session,  at  this  time,  only  a 
fortnight.  It  appointed  three  of  its  members  to  draw  up  a 
Scriptural  Model  of  Church  Government,  and  adjourned  till 
June  8th  of  the  following  year,  1647. 

Regathered  at  that  date,  it  was  almost  immediately  forced 
to  adjourn  again""  by  reason  of  an  "epidemical  sickness" 
which  prevailed  over  the  whole  country,  "among  Indians  and 
English,  French  and  Dutch.'"'-' 

The  blow  fell  hard,  here  in  Hartford.  Many  of  the  citizens 
of  the  town  died  of  it.  But  its  most  shining  mark  was  the 
Pastor  of  the  Church.  Mr.  Winthrop,  in  the  simple,  noble 
language  of  his  diary,  records:  "That  which  made  the 
stroke  more  sensible  and  grievous,  both  to  them  [of  Con- 
necticut] and  to  all  the  country  was  the  death  of  that  faithful 
servant  of  the  Lord,  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Hartford,  who,  for  piety,  prudence,  wisdom,  zeal, 
learning,  and  what  else  might  make  him   serviceable  in  the 


^■'In  August,  1637;  in  May,  1639;  in  September,  1643;  ^"*^'  probabl}-,  July, 
1645.     See  Winthrop,  i,  281,  360;  ii,  165  and  304. 

''"It  re-assembled  August  15,  1648,  and  adopted,  after  a  fortnight's  delibera- 
tion, substantially,  the  draft  of  a  Platform  presented  by  Rev.  Richard  Mather. 
The  result  of  the  synod  was  next  year  "  presented  to  the  Churches  and  Generall 
Court  for  their  acceptance  and  consideration  in  the  Lord."  In  October,  1649, 
the  Court  commended  it  "to  the  judicyous  and  pious  consideracon  of  the  seu- 
erall  churches."  The  principles  of  this  Cambridge  Platform  are,  or  ought  to 
be,  so  well  known  among  Congregationalists,  as  not  to  need  explanation  here. 

'"^  Winthrop  says  about  this  distemper  (ii,  378):  "It  took  them  like  a  cold, 
and  a  light  fever  with  it.  Such  as  bled  or  used  cooling  drinks,  died ;  those  who 
took  comfortable  things,  for  the  most  part,  recovered,  and  that  in  a  few  days." 


1636-1647-]  HOOKER'S   DEATH.  n^ 

place  and  time  he  lived  in,  might  be  compared  with  men 
of  greatest  note;  and  he  shall  need  no  other  praise:  the 
fruits  of  his  labors  in  both  Englands  shall  preserve  an 
honorable  and  happy  remembrance  of  him  forever."'"  The 
wise  and  eloquent  eulogy  needs  no  amplification. 

Mr.  Stone  arrived  home  from  the  dispersed  Synod  in 
season  to  see  his  associate  die.  He  already  "  looked  like  a 
dying  man,"  Mr.  Stone  writes  to  Shepard,  but  he  had  said  to 
Mr.  Goodwin  that  "his  peace  was  made  in  heaven  and  had 
continued  30  years  without  alteration."  '' 

To  one  weeping  by  his  bedside  who  said  to  him,  "Sir,  you 
are  going  to  receive  the  reward  of  all  your  labors,"  he  replied, 
'^Brother,  I  am  going  to  nxeive  inercy."  "  He  closed  his  eyes 
with  his  own  hands,  and  gently  stroking  his  own  forehead, 
with  a  smile  in  his  countenance,  .  .  .  expired  his  blessed 
soul  into  the  arms  of  his  fellozv  servants,  the  holy  angels,  on 
July  7,  1647."" 

His  age  was  sixty-one  years.  He  died,  it  is  said,  on  the 
anniversary  of  his  birth.  He  made  a  Will  the  day  he  died, 
in  which  he  left  directions  for  the  guidance  of  his  household, 
and  for  the  custody  and  publication  of  his  manuscripts  ; 
entrusting  his  "  beloved  friends,  Mr.  Edward  Hopkins  -and 
Mr.  William  Goodwyn,"  with  the  care  of  the  "  education  and 
dispose"  of  his  children  and  of  the  management  of  his 
estate.'''  His  mortal  part  lies  mouldered  to  dust  just  back 'of 
this  church  edifice.'^  His  soul  is  with  the  just,  and  his 
memory  is  that  of  one  of  the  best  and  greatest  of  men. 


"  Letter  dated  July  19,  1647.     Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  4,  viii,  544. 

"^'^ Magnalia,  \,  2'i^'j .  ' 

'^  See  Appetidix  H,  for  Mr.  Hooker's  V^ill  and  Inventory  of  Estate. 

^^  The  monument  which  is  supposed  to  mark  the  burial  place  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Hooker  in  the  burying-ground  back  of  the  First  Church,  was  put  in  its  present 
position  in  1818.     At  that  time  the  slab  now  resting  on  the  four  upright  posts 


Il6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1636-1647. 

As  is  natural,  the  death  of  so  eminent  a  leader  of  the  little 
commonwealth  prompted  the  remembrance  by  survivors  of 
portents  and  supernatural  tokens  of  it.  The  event  occurred 
in  the  midseason  of  a  pestilential  summer,  when  languor  and 
oppression  in  the  probably  crowded  and  ill-ventilated  pre- 
cincts of  the  small  meeting-house  might  have  been  expected. 
But  looking  back  upon  it,  "  some  of  his  most  observant 
hearers  observed  an  astonishing  sort  of  cloud  in  his  congre- 
gation, the  last  Lord's  day  of  his  publick  ministry,  when  he 
also  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  among  them  ;  and  a  most 
unaccountable  heaviness  and  sleepiness,  even  in  the  most 
watchful  Christians  of  the  place,  not  unlike  the  drowsiness 
of  the  disciples  when  our  Lord  was  going  to  die  ;  for  which 
one  of  the  elders  publickly  rebuked  them.  When  those 
devout  people  afterwards  perceived  that  this  was  the  last 
sermon  and  sacrament  wherein  they  were  to  have  the  pres- 
ence of  the  pastor  with  them,  'tis  inexpressible  how  much 
they  bewailed  their  unattentiveness  unto  his  farewell  dis- 
pensations;  and  some  of  them  could  enjoy  no  peace  in  their 
own  souls  until  they  had  obtained  leave  of  the  elders  to 
confess  before  the  whole  congregation,  with  many  tears,  that 
inadvertency."  '' 


was  lying  unmarked  upon  the  ground ;  either  never  having  had  an  inscription, 
or  the  inscription  (an  improbable  suggestion)  having  been  worn  away.  As  the 
result  of  a  motion  of  Mr.  Seth  Terry,  in  Society  meeting,  Dec.  22,  1817,  the 
stone  was  raised,  inscribed,  and  placed  as  it  now  is.  The  inscription  was  writ- 
ten by  Mr.  Terry,  and  the  antique  style  of  spelling  and  lettering  was  imitated 
from  the  monument  to  Mr.  Stone,  the  Teacher  of  the  Church,  next  beside  it. 

Mr.  Stone,  in  his  letter  to  Shepard,  giving  account  of  his  colleague's  death, 
wrote  :  "  If  I  have  the  whole  winter,  you  may  think  whether  it  may  not  be 
comely  for  you  &  myself  &  some  other  Elders  to  make  a  few  verses  for  Mr. 
Hooker  &  inscribe  them  in  the  beginning  of  his  book,  as  if  they  had  been  his 
funeral  verses.  I  do  but  propound  it."  This  design  was  fulfilled  with  more 
good  will  than  poetic  fire..    See  Appendix  III,  for  these  metrical  memorials. 

'5  Magnalia,  i,  317. 


1636-1647]  HOOKER'S   DEATH.  II7 

Whether  this  last  Sabbath  and  Sacramental  service  was 
July  4th  or  June  27th,  it  is  perhaps  impossible  to  determine. 
Mr.  Hooker's  death  occurred  on  Wednesday,  July  7th,  "  a 
little  before  sunne-set,"  which  throws  the  weight  of  proba- 
bility in  favor  of  the  earlier  Sunday,  especially  as  there  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  any  established  usage  connecting 
Sacramental  services  with  the  first  Sunday  of  the  month 
such  as  now  obtains."'' 

But  whether  Mr.  Hooker  preached  his  last  sermon  on 
July  4th  or  June  27th,  he  preached  one  on  June  20th,  at 
Windsor,  of  which  notes  remain  in  the  writing  of  Deacon 
Matthew  Grant,  of  that  place,  and  which  consequently  was 
delivered  on  the  last  Sunday  but  one  or  the  last  Sunday  but 
two  before  he  died.  Deacon  Grant  records,  at  the  end  of 
the  notes,  "Mr.  Hooker  was  hurried  18  days  after  he 
preached  this  sermon."  And  although  the  notes  are  mani- 
festly imperfect,  and  inadequately  represent  the  thoughts  of 
the  preacher,  still,  as  standing  in  such  interesting  proximity 
to  his  departure,  and  as  having  never  before  been  published 
they  will  be  given  in  the  later  pages  of  this  volume." 


'"  The  usage  of  the  Windsor  Church  at  this  time  brought  Sacramental  days 
quite  as  often  on  other  Sundays  than  the  first  of  the  month,  as  on  that  one. 

'"  Deacon  Matthew  Grant's  volume  is  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Trum- 
bull, and  the  copy  of  the  notes  (together  with  the  comments  thereon)  found  in 
Appendix  IV,  has  been  kindly  furnished  by  him. 


CHAPTER     VI 


THOMAS   HOOKER'S  WRITINGS. 

Books,  numbering  some  thirty  titles,  are  extant  of  Mr. 
Hooker's  published  writings.  Yet  he  was  not  to  any  great 
extent  of  set  purpose  an  author  of  books.  Most  of  his  vol- 
umes are  collections  of  discourses  on  experimental  religion, 
whose  first  and  main  use  was  in  the  oral  delivery,  and  whose 
object  was  the  immediately  practical  one  of  impressing,  con- 
vincing, and  persuading  the  hearers  of  his  voice. 

Some  of  these  series  of  discourses  were  printed  from 
notes  taken  down  by  short-hand  writers  who  listened  to  him 
during  his  Chelmsford  Lectureship,  or  perhaps  still  earlier  at 
Emmanuel ;  and  even  of  others,  concerning  which  we  have 
the  assurance'  that  they  are  "as  they  were  penned  under 
his  own  hand,"  or  "printed  from  his  own  papers,  written 
with  his  own  hand,"  we  have  no  token  of  editorial  revision 
by  himself,  and  little  of  any  intention  in  their  composition 
that  they  should  be  printed  at  all.  All  his  books — unless 
The  Poore  Doubting  Christian  be  a  possible  exception — 
being  published  in  England,  either  during  his  exile  in  Hol- 
land, his  residence  in  America,  or  after  his  death,  he  saw 
none  of  them  "  through  the  press  "  ;  and  though  authorizing 
the  issue  of  some  of  them,'^  imparted  to  none  the  advantage 


'  See  Goodwin  and  Nye's  preface  and  the  publisher's  announcement  to  the 
Comment  upon  Chrisfs  Last  Prayer  and  The  Application  of  Redemption. 

'^  As,  e.g.,  The  Eqiiall  Wayes  of  God  (1632),  to  which  he  wrote  a  prefatory 
address,  signed  "T.  H." 


1629-1647-]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  Ug 

of  an  author's  customary  review  of  the  printed  page.  One 
of  them — TJie  Saints  Dignitie  and  Dutic,  published  in  165 1 
— was  compiled  by  his  son-in-law,  Thomas  Shepard ;  two  or 
three  others — as  A  Comment  upon  Chiisfs  Last  Prayer,'' 
published  in  1656,  and  TJie  Application  of  Redemption,  pub- 
lished in  1659 — were  issued  under  the  prefatory  supervision 
of  Revs.  Thomas  Goodwin  and  Philip  Nye  ;  and  some,  per- 
haps, may  have  been  printed  from  copies  of  Mr.  Hooker's 
discourses  made  by  Rev.  John  Higginson  of  Guilford,  who 
is  said  ^  to  have  "  transcribed  from  his  manuscripts  near  two 
hundred  of  these  excellent  sermons,  which  were  sent  over 
into  England  that  they  might  be  published;  but  by  what 
means  I  know  not,  scarce  half  of  them  have  seen  the  light 
unto  this  day."  ' 

Several  of  the  volumes  are  anonymous,  a  fact  itself  sug- 
gestive of  a  surreptitious  possession  and  use  of  the  materials 
of  which  they  were  compiled. 


^  The  publication  of  this  volume — A  Comme>it  upon  Chi'ist's  Last  Prayer — 
seems  to  have  been  more  distinctly  prepared  for  by  Mr.  Hooker  than  almost 
any  other  voIurtc,  except  his  Survey.  In  his  Will,  signed  upon  his  death-bed, 
he  leaves  to  the  benefit  of  his  wife  the  advantage  of  "  whatever  manuscripts 
shall  bee  judged  meete  to  be  printed."  But  that  the  manuscript  of  this  special 
series  of  discourses  was  already  determined  on  as  one  thus  "judged  meete," 
appears  from  the  will  of  Mr.  John  Whiting,  who,  dying  in  the  same  epidemical 
sickness  as  Mr.  Hooker,  in  1647,  had  in  the  first  draft  of  his  will,  made  in 
March,  1643,  provided  "to  have  20/.  paid  vnto  Mr.  Hooker,  toward  the  further- 
ance of  setting  forth  for  the  benefitt  of  the  church  his  worke  uppon  the  17"^  of 
John,  with  any  else  hee  doth  intend."     See  Col.  Records,  vol.  i,  493. 

*  Magnalia,  i,  315. 

°  Prof.  Moses  Coit  Tyler,  in  his  History  of  American  Literature  (vol.  i,  194) 
tells  this  amazing  story  about  the  fate  of  some  of  Mr.  Hooker's  manuscripts : 
"  In  1830,  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  years  after  Hooker's  death,  the  old 
parsonage  at  Hartford  was  torn  down,  and  in  it  were  found  large  quantities  of 
manuscripts,  supposed  to  have  been  his.  What  they  were  we  know  not.  They 
may  have  contained  letters,  diaries,  and  other  invaluable  personal  and  historical 
memoranda ;  but  there  happened  to  be  no  one  then  in  the  city  which  Hooker 
founded,  to  give  shelter  to  these  venerable  treasures,  and  to  save  them  from  the 
doom  of  being  thrown  into  the  Connecticut  River." 


120  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1629-1647. 

But  though  there  is  some  small  diversity  in  the  details  of 
style  and  finish,  such  as  this  variety  of  manner  in  the  appear- 
ance of  the  volumes  would  suggest,  the  family  likeness  is 
unmistakable.  They  obviously  came,  whatever  verbal  blem- 
ish may  attach  to  any  of  them,  from  the  same  mind  and  pen. 

The  one  exception  to  the  general  rule  which  assigns  Mr. 
Hooker's  books  to  a  primary  purpose  of  oral  address  to  his 
hearers,  and  only  an  incidental  or  even  unconsidered  one 
toward  their  readers,  is  his  Survey  of  the  Siiinme  of  CJinrch 
Disciplhie.  And  all  the  facts  concerning  this  book  serve  to 
show  that  authorship,  as  such,  had  no  attraction  for  him. 

The  Survey  was  first  written,  rather  reluctantly  and  under 
much  "  strength  of  importunity," "  at  the  suggestion  of 
others,  to  be  published  in  England  for  the  counteraction  there 
of  the  growing  party  of  Presbyterianism.  Mr.  Hooker  him- 
self was  with  difficulty  drawn  to  the  service,  looking  on  it 
"  as  somewhat  unsuitable  to  a  Pastor,  whose  head,  and  heart, 
and  hands  were  full  of  the  imploiments  of  his  proper  place."' 

And  when  the  first  draft  of  the  volume  was  lost  in  the 
sea,  "if  he  might  have  enjoyed  the  liberty  of  his  own  judg- 
ment and  desires  "  he  would  have  left  what  he  had  written 
to  be  "buried  in  everlasting  silence."  Being  "overborn," 
however,  he  wrote  the  treatise  anew,  "though  before  the  tran- 
scribing, he  was  translated  to  be  ever  with  the  Lord."  ^ 

He  wrote  a  Preface  to  the  volume  which  may  well  be  taken 
to  express  his  views  concerning  the  style  of  all  his  writings. 

In  it  he  says,  "That  the  discourse  comes  forth  in  such  a 
homely  dresse,  and  course  habit,  the  reader  must  be  desired 
to  consider,  it  comes  out  of  the  wildernesse,  where  curiosity 


•*  Epistle  to  the  Reader,  prefatory  to  the  Survey. 

7  Ibid. 

8  Ibid. 


1629-1647-]  HOOKER'S    WRITINGS.  j2I 

is  not  Studied.     Planters  if  they  can  provide  cloth  to  go  warm 
they  leave  the  cutts  and  lace  to  those  that  study  to  go  fine. 

"  As  it  is  beyond  my  skill,  so  I  professe  it  is  beyond  my 
care  to  please  the  nicenesse  of  men's  palates,  with  any  quaint- 
nesse   of    language.      They  who   covet   more    sauce    then 

meat,  they  must   provide  cooks  to   their  minde 

The  substance   and    solidity   of    the   frame   is    that   which 
pleaseth  the  builder;  its  the  painter's  work  to  provide  varnish." 

This  disclaimer  is  in  Hooker's  genuine  style.  It  is  itself 
an  illustration  of  that  union  of  vigor  and  vivacity  which  made 
his  utterance  in  the  pulpit  so  arrestive  of  the  most  wandering 
or  antagonistic  attention,  and  which  makes  the  faded  pages 
of  his  printed  books  frequently  so  pungent  and  picturesque. 

The  stories  told  of  Hooker's  preaching  are  striking.  One 
is  of  the  presence  at  one  of  his  Chelmsford  lectures  of 
some  boon  companions  led  by  a  man,  who,  for  "  ungodly  diver- 
sion and  merriment,  said  unto  his  companions,  Come,  let  us 
go  hear  what  that  bazvliiig  Hooker  will  say!'  "  The  man  had 
not  been  long  in  the  church  before  the  quick  and  powerftd 
ivord  of  God,  in  the  mouth  of  his  faithful  Hooker,  pierced 
the  soul  of  him  ;  he  came  out  with  an  awakened  and  dis- 
tressed soul,  and  by  the  further  blessing  of  God  on  Mr.  Hook- 
er s  ministry,  he  arrived  unto  a  true  conversiofi.'"  Another  is 
an  incident  of  his  preaching  in  the  "  great  Church  of  Lei- 
cester," ten  miles  west  of  his  humble  birth-place  at  Marfield, 
and  while  still  his  parents  were  living  there.  One  of  the  town 
burgesses  set  a  company  of  fiddlers  to  playing  in  the  church- 
yard. But  the  fiddlers  could  neither  drown  the  preacher  nor 
draw  away  the  hearers.  Whereupon  the  burgess  went  to  the 
church-door  to  hear  what  it  was  that  so  enchained  the  con- 
gregation. But  getting  once  within  sound  of  that  voice,  and 
the  reach  of  the  barbed  arrows  of  utterance  shot  from   the 

preacher's  lips,   himself  fell  down  wounded,   and  "  became 
16 


122  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1629-1647. 

indeed  so  penitent  a  convert,  as  to  be  at  length  a  sincere /r^- 
fessor  and  practicer  of  the  godliness  whereof  he  had  been  a 
persecutor!'  " 

The  reader  of  Hooker's  volumes  will  easily  credit  these 
stories.  Tradition  has  it,  that  he  was  in  person  majestic  and 
in  utterance  commanding  and  persuasive  ;  but  these  graces 
were  not  essential  to  one  who  could  put  things  into  the 
sharp,  vivacious,  and  infinitely  various  utterance  of  these  dis- 
courses. 

As  to  the  mass  of  these  writings,  they  are  —  laying  aside 
the  Survey  —  essentially  on  one  theme.  They  are  a  body, 
not  of  doctrinal,  but  of  experimental  divinity.  They  relate, 
as  has  been  said,'"  to  the  "Applicatio^i  of  Redemption ;  and 
that  which  eminently  fitted  him  for  the  handling  of  those 
principles,  was,  that  he  had  been  from  his  youth  trained  up 
in  the  experience  of  those  hmniliations  and  cojisolations  and 
sacred  cominunio7is  which  belong  to  the  new  creature."  The 
discourses  are  stated  ''  to  have  been,  and  it  is  inherently  pro- 
bable that  they  were,  the  result  of  repeated  preachings  and 
lecturings  upon  the  experimental  aspects  of  religion,  first  at 
Cambridge,  where  he  lectured  at  Emmanuel ;  afterward  at 
Chelmsford,  and  subsequently  in  America.  He  went  over 
the  ground  again  and  again,  and  with  marvelous  minuteness 
and  fullness  of  detail.  ^His  volumes  are  thus  —  when  collec- 
ted in  their  organic  relationship  —  a  development  of  what 
he  conceived  the  soul's  way  of  seeking,  finding,  and  enjoying 
Christ.  J  Their  titles,  whether  his  own  or  given  by  others,  in- 
dicate distinctly  this  recognized  purpose  running  through 
them.      TJie  Soiiles  Preparation  for  Chiist,  The  Soules  Hii- 


^  Magnalia,  i,  306-7. 
^^  Magnalia,  i,  314. 

"  Ibid,  315.     See  also  Goodwin  and  Nye's  prefatory  letter  to  the  Application 
of  Redemption. 


1629-1647]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  1 23 

miliation.  The  Soules  Vocation  or  Effectual  Calling,  The 
Soules  Instijication,  The  Soiiles  Implantation,  The  Soules 
Vnion  zvith  Christ,  The  Soules  Benefit  from  Vnion  with 
Christ,  The  Saints  Dignitie  and  Dntie,  —  these,  among 
others,  show  clearly  the  track  along  which  he  moved. 

It  is  the  line  of  thought  followed  by  the  pastor  rather  than 
the  theologian.  LThe  robustest  system  of  theology  is  every- 
where implied  and  incidentally  expressed  in  these  discourses, 
but  the  statement  of  a  system  of  theology  is  in  none  of  them, 
or  in  all  of  them,  an  aim.  The  aim  is  the  persuasion  of  menTj 
And  to  this  purpose  the  preacher  brings  a  fecundity  of  mind, 
a  power  of  spiritual  anatomy,  an  amplitude  and  variousness 
of  illustration,  and  an  energy  of  utterance  which  are  abso- 
lutely marvelous.  Especially  striking  is  this  wonderfulness 
of  resource  in  analyzing  the  moral  phenomena  antecedent 
to,  and  attendant  on  conversion.  To  most  modern  readers, 
the  proportion  of  consideration  will  seem  excessive  which  Mr. 
Hooker  gives  to  the  experiences  of  the  soul  in  mere  "  prepa- 
ration "  for  conversion.  He  has  volumes  on  these  antecedent 
exercises  of  the  spirit  before  it  gets  to  the  point  of  trust  in 
Christ.  He  laid  himself  open,  even  while  he  lived,  to  the  re- 
mark of  the  shrewd  Rev.  Nathaniel  Ward  of  Ipswich,  Mass., 
L"  Mr.  Hooker,  you  make  as  good  Christians  before  men  are 
in  Christ  as  ever  they  are  after ;  would  I  were  but  as  good  a 
Christian  now,  as  you  make  men  while  they  are  but  preparing 
for  Christ.'"'! 

Mr.  Hooker's  course  in  this  respect  was  perhaps  some- 
what extreme,  even  for  his  time.  But  in  those  days  of  recoil 
from  the  outward  ceremonial  religion  in  which  the  Papacy 
had  so  long  held  men,  the  inward  facts  of  personal  experience 
were  made  the  subject  of  the  profoundest  scrutiny  and  dis- 


'■^  Giles  Firmin's  Real  Christian,  p.  19. 


124  ^^^^''-   F^'^ST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1629-1647 

section.  Especially  all  the  subterfuges  and  windings  of  the 
human  spirit  in  recoil  from  the  stern  presentations  of  the 
sovereignty  and  righteousness  of  God,  were  followed  with 
microscopic  acuteness  of  observation  and  loving  pitilessness 
of  exposure.  Conversion  was  a  great  thing  and  a  difficult 
thing.  It  was  "  not  a  little  mercy  that  would  serve  the 
turne ;  .  .  •  the  Lord  will  make  all  crack  before  thou  shalt  finde 
mercy."  '^  Mr.  Hooker's  son-in-law,  the  saintly  Thomas 
Shepard,  of  Cambridge,  put  the  matter  thus,  in  his  Sijico'e 
Convert :  "  Jes^is  Christ  is  not  got  with  a  wet  finger.  .  .  It 
is  a  tough  work,  a  wonderfull  hard  matter  to  be  saved;""" 
and  again,  "  'Tis  a  thousand  to  one  if  ever  thou  bee  one  of 
that  small  number  whom  God  hath  picked  out  to  escape  this 
wrath  to  come."  " 

r  Holding  these  views  of  the  immense  difficulty  of  saving 
conversion,  and  the  measureless  liability  of  men  to  decep- 
tion about  it,  together  with  the  infinite  misery  of  failing  in 
the  enterprise,  it  is  not  strange  that  the  whole  process  of  the 
spiritual  work  should  have  been  tried  as  by  fire.  As  speci- 
mens of  this  kind  of  endeavor,  Hooker's  writings  are  unsur- 
passedy  Of  this  feature  of  his  teachings,  as  well  as  of  others 
which  will  give  us  some  more  general  view  of  his  spirit  and 
method  as  a  preacher,  we  shall  get  the  best  conception  from 
some  quotations  from  his  books.  No  attempt  will  here  be 
made  either  to  enforce  or  to  refute  any  of  the  sentiments 
quoted.  The  only  purpose  of  making  these  extracts  is  to  bring 
the  man  before  us  as  he  was,  and  as  he  expressed  himself. 
The  comparative  rarity  of  his  books,  together  with  the  trans- 
cendent place  he  holds  in  the  history  of  this  Church,  will 
justify  somewhat  extended   transcription   of  the  utterances 


^'^  Hooker,  Settles  Preparation  (1632),  pp.  9-10. 
'*  Shepard's  Sincere  Convert  (1646),  p.  150. 
>5  Ibid,  98. 


1629-1647-]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  I2C 

which   used  to  awe  and  thrill,  alarm  and  comfort  the  first 
generation  of  its  members. 

In  the  Sonles  Preparation  for  Christ,  he  is  arguing  on  the 
necessity  of  a  clear  view  of  a  man's  sinfulness,  and  says  : 

"  First,  it  is  not  every  sight  of  sinne  will  serve  the  turne, 
nor  every  apprehension  of  a  mans  vilenesse  ;  but  it  must 
have  these  two  properties  in  it.  First,  he  must  see  sinne 
clearly  ;  second,  convictingly.  First,  hee  that  will  see  sinne 
clearly  must  see  it  truly  and  fully,  and  be  able  to  fadome  the 
compasse  of  his  corruptions,  and  to  dive  into  the  depths  of 
the  wretchedness  of  his  vile  heart ;  otherwise  it  wil  befall  a 
a  mans  sinne  as  it  doth  the  wound  of  a  mans  body  :  When 
a  man  lookes  into  the  wound  only,  and  doth  not  search  it  to 
the  bottome,  it  begins  to  fester  and  rancle,  and  so  in  the  end 
he  is  slaine  by  it  ;  so  it  is  with  most  sinners ;  Wee  carry 
all  away  with  this  ;  Wee  are  sinners  ;  and  such  ordinary  con- 
fessions ;  but  we  never  see  the  depth  of  the  wound  of  sinne, 
and  so  are  slaine  by  our  sinnes.  It  is  not  a  generall,  slight, 
and  confused  sight  of  sinne  that  will  serve  the  turne  ;  it  is 
not  enough  to  say :  It  is  my  infirmity ;  and  I  cannot  amend 
it ;  and  Wee  are  all  sinners ;  and  so  forth.  No ;  this  is  the 
ground  why  wee  mistake  our  evils  and  reforme  not  our  wayes, 
because  we  have  a  slight  and  overly  sight  of  sinne.  A  man 
must  prove  his  wayes  as  the  goldsmith  doth  his  gold,  in  the 
fire  ;  a  man  must  search  narrowly  and  have  much  light  to  see 
what  the  vilenesse  of  his  own  heart  is,  and  to  see  what  his 
sinnes  are  that  doe  procure  the  wrath  of  God  against  him. 
....  We  must  looke  on  the  nature  of  sinne  in  the  venome 
of  it,  the  deadly  hurtfull  nature  that  it  hath  for  plagues  and 
miseries  it  doth  procure  our  soules  ;  and  that  you  may  doe, 
partly  if  you  compare  it  with  other  things,  and,  partly  if  you 
looke  at  it  in  regard  of  yourselves  : -First,  compare  sinne  with 
those  things  that  are  most  fearefull  and  horrible ;  as  suppose 
any  soule  here  present  were  to  behold  the  damned  in  hell, 
and  if  the  Lord  should  give  thee  a  little  peepe-hole  into  hell, 
that  thou  didst  see  the  horror  of  those  damned  soules,  and 


126  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1629-1647. 

thy  heart  begin  to  shake  in  the  consideration  thereof ;  then 
propound  this  to  thy  owne  heart  :  What  paines  the  damned 
in  hell  doe  endure  for  sin,  and  thy  heart  will  quake  and  shake 
at  it ;  the  least  sinne  that  ever  thou  didst  commit,  though  thou 
makest  a  light  matter  of  it,  is  a  greater  evill  than  the  paines 
of  the  damned  in  hell,  setting  aside  their  sinne  ;  all  the  tor- 
ments in  hell  are  not  so  great  an  evil  as  the  least  sin  is.  Men 
begin  to  shrink  at  this,  and  to  loathe  to  goe  down  to  hell  and 
to  be  in  endless  torments."  '" 

But  such  a  thorough  sight  of  sin  is  needful  to  a  thorough- 
work  of  grace  ;  for  : 

"  Many  have  gone  a  great  way  in  the  worke  of  humiliation, 
and  yet,  because  it  never  went  through  to  the  quicke,  they 
have  gone  backe  againe  and  become  as  vile  as  ever  they  were. 
I  have  known  men  that  the  Lord  hath  layed  a  heavie  bur- 
then upon  them,  and  awakened  their  consciences,  and  driven 
them  to  a  desperate  extremity,  and  yet,  after  much  anguish 
and  many  resolutions,  and  the  prizing  of  Christ,  as  they  con- 
ceived, and  after  the  renouncing  of  all,  to  take  Christ  upon 
his  owne  termes  as  they  imagined  ;  and  even  these  when  they 
have  bin  eased  and  refreshed,  and  God  hath  taken  off  the 
trouble,  they  have  come  to  be  as  crosse  to  God  and  all  good- 
nesse,  and  as  full  of  hatred  to  Gods  children  as  ever,  and 
worse  too. 

Now,  why  did  these  fall  away  ?  Why  were  they  never 
justified  and  sanctified  ?  And  why  did  they  never  come  to 
beleeve  in  the  Lord  Jesus  .''  vThe  reason  is,  because  their 
hearts  were  never  pierced  for  their  sinne,  they  were  never 
kindly  loosened  from  it.  This  is  the  meaning  of  that  place 
in  ler.:  Plow  up  the  falloiv  grounds  of  your  hearts,  and  sowe 
not  among  t/iornes ;  it  is  nothing  else,  but  with  sound,  saving 
sorrow  to  have  the  heart  pierced  with  the  terrours  of  the  Law 
seising  upon  it,  and  the  vilenesse  of  sin  wounding  the  con- 
science because  of  it.  The  heart  of  man  is  compared  to  fal- 
low ground  that  is  unfruitfull :  You  must  not  sow  amongst 


^"  Soules  Preparation  (1632),  pp.  12-14. 


1629-1647]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  1 27 

thornes  and  thistles;  first,  plow  it,  and  lay  it  bare  and 
naked,  and  then  cast  in  your  seed.  If  a  man  plow  here  a 
furrow  and  there  a  furrow,  and  leave  here  and  there  a  bawke, 
hee  is  never  like  to  have  a  good  crop  ;  there  will  grow  so 
many  thistles,  and  so  much  grasse,  that  it  will  choake  the 
seed :  our  hearts  are  this  ground  ;  and  our  corruptions  are 
these  thorns  and  thistles.  Now,  if  a  man  be  content  to 
finde  some  sinne  hatefull,  because  it  is  shamefull,  but  will 
keepe  here  a  lust  and  there  a  lust,  hee  will  never  make  any 
good  husbandry  of  his  heart ;  though  a  faithful  Minister 
should  sow  all  the  grace  of  the  promises  in  his  soule,  he 
would  never  get  any  good  by  them,  but  the  corruptions  that 
remaine  in  the  heart  will  hinder  the  saving  worke  thereof. 

"  Therefore  plow  up  all,    and    by  sound,    saving   sorrow, 
labour  to  have  thy  heart  burthened  for  sinne,  and  estranged 

from  it,  and  this  is  good   husbandry  indeed If  you 

would  have  your  hearts  such  as  God  may  take  delight  in  and 

accept,  you  must  have  them  broken  and  contrite A 

contrite  heart  is  that  which  is  powdered  all  to  dust,  as  the 
Prophet  saith,  Thou  bringest  us  to  dust,  and  then  thou  say- 
est,  Retunie  againe  y^  sonnes  of  men.  So  the  heart  must  be 
broken  all  in  pieces  to  powder,  and  the  union  of  sinne  must 
be  broken,  and  it  must  be  content  to  be  weaned  from  all 
sinne  ;  As  you  may  make  any  thing  of  the  hardest  flint  that 
is  broken  all  to  dust,  so  it  is  with  the  heart  that  is  thus  fit- 
ted and  fashioned  ;  If  there  be  any  corruption  that  the 
heart  lingers  after,  it  will  hinder  the  worke  of  preparation ; 
If  a  man  cut  off  all  from  a  branch  save  one  sliver ;  that  will 
make  it  grow  still,  that  it  cannot  be  engrafted  into  another 
stock  j  So  though  a  man's  corrupt  heart  depart  from  many 
sinnes  and  scandalous  abominations  ;  yet  if  he  keepe  the 
love  of  any  one  sinne,  it  will  be  his  destruction  ;  as  many  a 
man  after  horrour  of  heart  hath  had  a  love  after  some  base 
lust  or  other,  and  is  held  by  it  so  fast,  that  hee  can  never  bee 
ingrafted  into  the  Lord  Jesus.  This  one  lust  may  breake  his 
neck  and  send  him  downe  to  hell.  «^  So  then,  if  the  soule  only 
can  be  fitted  for  Christ   by  sound  sorrow,  then  this   must 


128  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.       [1629-1647. 

needes  pierce  the  heart  before  Christ  can  come  there  ;  but 
the  heart  cannot  bee  fitted  for  Christ  without  this,  and  there- 
fore of  necessity  the  heart  must  be  truly  wounded  with  sor- 
row for  sin."  '' 

And  there  is  a  great  liability  to  self-deception  about  this 
matter. 

"^  "  O  doe  not  cozen  your  owne  soules  ;  it  is  not  the  teares  of 
the  eye,  but  the  blood  of  the  heart  that  your  sinnes  must 
cost,  and  if  you   come   not  to  this,  never  thinke.  that  your 

sorrow  is  good "^  Now  if  all  be  true  that  I  have  said. 

there  are  but  few  sorrowers  for  sinne,  therefore  few  saved; 
'here  wee  see  the  ground  and  reason  why  many  fly  off  from 
Godlinesse  and  Christianity  ;  This  is  the  cause,  their  soules 
were  onely  troubled  with  a  little  hellish  sorrow,  but  their  hearts 
were  never  kindly  grieved  for  their  sinnes.  If  a  mans  arme 
be  broken  and  disjoynted  a  little,  it  may  grow  together  againe  ; 
But  if  it  be  quite  broken  off  it  cannot  grow  together ;  So  the 
terrour  of  the  Law  affrighted  his  conscience,  and  a  powerful! 
Minister  unjoynted  his  soule,  and  the  Judgments  of  God  were 
rending  of  him;  but  he  was  never  cut  off  attogether;  and 
therefore  he  returnes  as  vile,  &  as  base,  if  not  worse  than 
before,  &  grows  more  firmly  to  his  corruptions.  It  is  with 
a  mans  conversion  as  in  some  mens  ditching,  they  doe  not 
pull  up  all  the  trees  by  the  roots,  but  plash  them  ;  so  when 
you  come  to  have  your  corruptions  cut  off,  you  plash  them, 
and  doe  not  wound  your  hearts  kindly,  and  you  doe  not  make 
your  soules  feele  the  burthen  of  sin  truly  ;  this  will  make  a 
man  grow  and  flourish  still  howsoever,  more  cunningly  and 

,   subtilly Looke  as  it  is  with  a  womans  conception, 

^  those  birthesthat  are  hasty,  the  children  are  either  still  borne, 
or  the  woman  most  commonly  dies  ;  so  doe  not  thou  thinke 
to  fall  upon  the  promise  presently.  Indeed  you  cannot  fall 
upon  it  too  soone  upon  good  grounds  ;  but  it  is  impossible, 
that  ever  a  full  soule  or  a  haughty  heart  should  beleeve,  thou 
mayest  be  deceived,  but  thou  canst  not  be  engrafted  into 

''  Ibia,  pp.  150-151. 


1629-1647]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  I29 

Christ  ;  therefore  when  God  begins  to  worke,  never  rest  till 
you  come  to  a  full  measure  of  this  broken nesse  of  heart. 
Oh  follow  the  blow,  and  labour  to  make  this  worke  sound 
and  good  unto  the  bottom."  " 

^But  one  test  and  measure  of  this  soundness,  inculcated  by 
Hooker,  may,  perhaps,  occasion  surprise.  It  is  that  test  of 
true  conversion  which  in  our  New  England  theology  is  com- 
monly connected  with  the  name  of  Dr.  Hopkins  of  Newport 
— that  a  Christian  should  be  willing  to  be  damned  if  it  be 
God's  will.  Cotton  Mather — a  man  whose  generosity  of 
nature  has  not  been  duly  acknowledged — tries  to  defend  Mr. 
Hooker  from  the  imputation  of  teaching  this  doctrine,  on  the 
ground  that  the  publication  of  Mr.  Hooker's  writings  was  to 
a  great  extent  "without  his  consent  or  knowledge  ;  whereby 
his  notions  came  to  be  deformedly  misrepresented  in  multi- 
tudes of  passages,  among  which  I  will  suppose  that  crude 
passage  which  Mr.  Giles  Firmin,  in  his  Real  Christian,  so 
well  confutes,  That  if  the  soul  be  rightly  Jiumbled,  it  is  con- 
tent to  bear  the  state  of  damnation."  "  The  defence  is  well 
meant,  but  it  is  idle.  The  Hopkinsian  doctrine  of  content- 
ment in  being  damned  was  taught  nearly  a  century  and  a 
half  before  Hopkins,  by  Hooker  and  his  son-in-law  Shepard, 
with  the  utmost  distinctness.  It  is  not  by  any  supposition 
of  incorrect  short-hand  reporting  that  the  tenet  can  be 
got  out  of  Hooker's  Humiliation  or  Shepard's  Sincere 
Convert.  The  doctrine  is  logically  and  rhetorically  woven 
into  the  texture  of  both  treatises.  It  appears  and  re- 
appears  in    them.     It   is    prepared   for,   led   up    to,  stated. 


i"*  Ibid,  pp.  182,  187. 

^'^  MagftaUa,  I,   315.     Cotton   Mather   followed   his  father,  Increase,  m   this 
attempted  explanation  of  the  obnoxious  passages  in  Mr.  Hooker's  writings  on 
this  subject.     See  Increase  Mather's  prefatory  letter  to   Solomon  Stoddard's 
Guide  to  Christ,  dated  November,  1714. 
17 


130  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1629-1647. 

enforced,  and  objections  to  it  answered.  There  is  no  acci- 
dental and  inconsiderate  slipping  into  its  utterance.  It  is 
accepted  with  full  intelligence,  and  with  clear  recognition  of 
its  obnoxiousness  and  its  difficulty  to  the  average  experience. 

Pages  might  be  quoted  from  Shepard  in  proof  of  this  state- 
ment, but  attention  here  must  be  confined  to  Hooker's  teach- 
ings on  the  subject. 

The  preacher  is  well  aware  he  is  dealing  with  a  hard 
point  : 

*'  Now  I  come  to  this  last  passage  in  this  worke  of  Humil- 
iation, and  this  is  the  dead  lift  of  all.  The  Prodigall  doth 
not  stand  it  out  with  his  Father  and  say,  I  am  now  come 
againe,  if  I  may  have  halfe  the  rule  in  the  P'amily  I  am  con- 
tent to  live  with  you.  No,  though  hee  would  not  stay  there 
before,  now  hee  cannot  be  kept  out,  hee  is  content  to  bee 

anything Lord  (saith  he)  show  me  mercy  and  I  am 

content  to  be  and  to  suffer  any  thing.  So  from  hence  the 
Doctrine  is  this  :  The  Soule  that  is  truly  Jmtnbled  is  content 
to  be  disposed  of  by  the  Almightie  as  it  pleas etJi  him. 

"The  main  pitch  of  this  point  lyes  in  the  word  content. 
This  phrase  is  a  higher  pitch  then  the  former  of  submis- 
sion ;  and  this  is  plaine  by  this  example.  Take  a  debtor 
who  hath  used  all  meanes  to  avoyd  the  creditor  :  in  the  end 
he  seeeth  that  hee  cannot  avoyd  the  suit,  and  to  beare  it  hee 
is  not  able.  Therefore  the  onely  way  is  to  come  in,  and  yield 
himselfe  into  his  creditor's  handes ;  where  there  is  nothing, 
and  the  King  must  loose  his  right ;  so  the  debtor  yields  him- 
selfe ;  but  suppose  the  creditor  should  use  him  hardly,  exact 
the  uttermost,  and  throw  him  into  prison ;  Now  to  bee  con- 
tent to  under-goe  the  hardest  dealing,  it  is  a  hard  matter : 
this  is  a  further  degree  than  the  offering  himselfe.  So,  when 
the  Soule  hath  offered  himselfe,  and  he  seeth  that  Gods 
writs  are  out  against  him,  and  his  Conscience  (the  Lords 
Serjeant)  is  coming  to  serve  a  subpoena  on  him,  and  it  is  not 
able  to  avoyd  it,  nor  to  beare  it  when  he  comes,  therefore  he 
submits  himselfe  and  saith,  Lord  whither  shall  I   goe,  thy 


1629-1647-]  HOOKER'S    WRITINGS.  I3I 

anger  is  heavy  and  unavoydable  ;  Nay,  whatsoever  God 
requires,  the  Soule  layes  his  hande  upon  his  mouth,  and  goes 
away  contented  and  well  satisfied,  and  it  hath  nothing  to  say 
against  the  Lord.  This  is  the  nature  of  the  Doctrine  in 
hand  :  and  for  the  better  opening  of  it  let  me  discover  three 

things For  howsoever  the  Lords  worke  is  secret  in 

other  ordinary  things,  yet  all  the  Soules  that  ever  came  to 
Christ,  and  that  ever  shall  come  to  Christ,  must  have  this 
worke  upon  them  ;  and  it  is  impossible  that  faith  should  be 
in  the  Soule  ;  except  this  worke  bee  there  first,  to  make  way 
for  faith."  ^"  .... 

v  "Thirdly.  Hence  the  Soule  comes  to  be  quiet  and  fram- 
able  under  the  heavy  hand  of  God  in  that  helplesse  condition 
wherein  hee  is ;  so  that  the  Soule  having  beene  thus  framed 
aforehand,  it  comes  to  this,  that  it  takes  the  blow  and  lies 
under  the  burthen,  and  goes  away  quietly  and  patiently,  and 
saith  not  a  word  more.  Oh !  this  is  a  heart  worth  gold.  He 
accounts  God's  dealing  and  God's  way  to  be  the  fittest  and 
most  seasonable  of  all.  Oh !  (saith  he)  it  is  fit  that  God  should 
glorifie  himselfe  though  I  be  damned  forever,  for  I  deserve 
the  worst,'"\  .  .  . 

"Now  see  this  blessed  frame  of  heart  in  these  three  par- 
ticulars, ^l^'irst,  the  Soule  is  content  that  mercy  will  deny 
what  it  will  to  the  Soule,  and  the  Soule  is  content  and 
calmed  with  what  mercy  denyes.  If  the  Lord  will  not  heare 
his  prayers,  and  if  the  Lord  will  cast  him  away,  because  he 
hath  cast  away  the  Lord's  kindnesse,  and  if  the  Lord  will 
leave  him  in  that  miserable  and  damnable  condition,  which 
he  hast  brought  himself  into  by  the  stubbornesse  of  his  heart, 
the  Soule  is  quiet.  Though  I  confesse  it  is  harsh  and 
tedious,  and  long  it  is  ere  the  Soule  be  thus  framed,  yet  the 
heart  truly  abased  is  content  to  beare  the  estate  of  damna- 
tion ;  because  he  hath  brought  this  misery  and  damnation 
upon  himselfe."" 


2"  Soules  Humiliation,  (Ed.  1638,)  pp.  98-100. 
^'  Ibid,  pp.  106-107. 
22 /^/V/,  112. 


132  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1629-1647. 

"But,  some  may  here  object  and  say,  Must  the  Soule,  can 
the  Soule,  or  ought  it  to  be  thus  content  to  be  left  in  this 
damnable  condition?  For  the  answer  hereof,  know,  that  this 
contentedness   implies    two  things Secondly,  it  im- 

•   plies  a  calmnesse  of  Soule,  not  murmuring  against  the  Lord's 

dispensation  towards  him And  thus  we  ought  to  be 

contented  with  whatsoever  mercy  shall  deny,  because  wee 
are  not  worthy  of  any  favour;  and  the  humble  Soule  reasons 
thus  with  it  selfe,  and  saith,  my  owne  sinne,  and  my  abomi- 
nations have  brought  me  into  this  damnable  condition  wherein 
I  am,  &  I  have  neglected  that  mercy  which  might  have 
brought  me  from  it,  therefore  why  should  I  murmur  against 
mercy,  though  it  deny  me  mercy? Marke  this  well. 

'  He  that  is  not  willing  to  acknowledge  the  freenesse  of  the 
course  of  mercy,  is  not  worthy,  nay,  hee  is  not  fit  to  receive 
any  mercy :  but  that  Soule  which  is  not  content  that  mercy 
deny  him  what  it  will,  he  doth  not  give  way  to  the  freenesse 
of  the  Lords  grace  and  mercy,  and  therefore  that  Soule  is 
not  fit  for  mercy.""' 

"But  some  may  object.  Can  a  man  feele  this  frame  of 
heart,  to  be  content  that  mercy  should  leave  him  in  hell? 
Doe  the  Saints  of  God  find  this?  And  can  any  man  know 
this  in  his  heart  ? 

To  this  I  answer.  Many  of  God's  servants  have  been 
driven  to  this,  and  have  attained  to  it,  and  have  laid  open  the 
simplicitie  of  their  Soules  in  being  content  with  this."'" 

^  "The  Soule  that  is  thus  contented  to  be  at  Gods  dispos- 
ing, it  is  ever  improving  all  meanes  and  helpes  that  may 
bring  him  nearer  to  God,  but  if  mercy  shall  deny  it,  the  soul 
is  satisfied  and  rests  well  apaid;  this  every  Soule  that  is 
truly  humbled  may  have,  and  hath  in  some  measure.""'' 

But  this  submission  and  humiliation  of  the  soul  is  a  work 
no  man  can  accomplish  for  himself  : 


^^  Ibid,  pp.  1 1 3- 1 1 5. 
"^^Ibid,^.  115. 
^^IHd,  p.  114. 


1629-1647-]  ■  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  *  1 33 

For,  "this  union  that  is  betweene  the  soule  and  its  cor- 
ruptions is  marveilous  strong  and  firme,  nay  so  strong  and 
firme  that  there  is  no  meanes  under  heaven,  no  creature  in  the 
world  that  is  able  to  breake  this  union,  and  dissolve  this 
combination  that  is  betweene  sinne  and  the  soule,  unless  the 
Lord  by  his  Almighty  power  come  and  break  this  concord 
and  conspiracy  that  is  betweene  sinne  and  the  soule,  against 
himselfe  and  the  glory  of  his  name ;  and  fof  the.  truth  hereof 
observe  this,  all  outward  meanes  are  too  scant,  too  narrow, 
too  short  to  break  the  union  betweene  sinne  and  the  soule; 
as  it  is  with  the  body  of  a  man  if  there  were  a  great  and  old 
distemper  in  a  mans  stomacke,  if  a  man  should  put  a  rich 
doublet  upon  him  and  lay  him  in  a  Featherbed,  and  use  all 
other  outward  meanes,  this  would  doe  him  noe  good,  because 
the  disease  is  within,  and  is  become,  as  it  were,  another  nature 
in  him,  it  is  an  old  distemper  that  hath  eaten  into  his  very 
bowels,  and  therefore  all  outward  meanes  cannot  make  a 
separation  betweene  the  disease  and  the  body,  because  the 
disease  being   inward  they  cannot  come  neare  it.     Just  so 
it  is  with  the  soule  of  a  man ;  a  mans  heart  will  have  his 
sinne;  there  is  an  inward  combination  betweene  the  soule 
and  sinne ;  now  all  meanes,  as  the  Word,  and  the  like  is  out- 
ward, and  can  doe  no  good  in  this  kind,  they  cannot  break 
the  union  betweene  a  mans  heart  and  his  corruptions  unless 
the  Lord  by  his  Almighty  power  and  infinite  wisedom  make 
a  separation  betweene  sinne  and  the  soule,  and  dissolve  this 
union.     The  soule  saith,  I  will  have  my  sinne,  and  I  will 
have  my  life,  and  I  will  have  my  God,  though  I  die  for  it; 
there  is  a  strong  league  made  betweene  the  heart  of  a  sinner 
and  his  lusts,  and  therefore  all  outward  meanes  cannot  pos- 
sibly break  this  league :  looke  as  it  is  with  a  strong  stomack, 
if  you  give  it  any  ordinary  meate  the  strength  of  the  stom- 
acke is  above  the  meate,  and  turnes  the  meate  into  the  nature 
of  itself,  so  it  is  with  a  corrupt  heart  that  hath  made  a  league 
with  his  lusts,  all  outward  meanes  and  ordinances  of  God,  a 
corrupt  heart  converts  them  and  turnes  them  aside  to  his 
everlasting  destruction;  the  instrumental]  cause  is  alwayes 


134  *         '^^^   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1629-1647. 

under  the  principall;  the  soul  of  a  man  is  a  soveraigne  com- 
mander; this  way  all  outward  meanes  are  but  instrumental 
muses,  [sic]  and  the  heart  of  a  man  is  above  them,  and 
therefore  they  may  as  well  harden  a  man  as  soften  his  heart 
and  humble  his  soule ;  a  man  can  receive  no  good  thereby 
unless  it  please  God  to  overpower  this  distemper  that  is  in  a 
man,  and  breake  the  neare  union  and  firme  league  that  is 
betweene  sinne  and  the  soule."  "' 

But  God  sometimes  interposes  to  afford  this  indispensable 
aid.  Not  always,  indeed,  for  God's  purpose  does  not  always 
go  to  the  extent  of  this  saving  work. 

"The  Lord  deales  diversely  as  hee  seeth  fit;  specially 
these  three  wayes. 

First,  if  God  have  a  purpose  to  civilize  a  man,  he  will  lay 
his  sorrow  as  a  fetter  upon  him ;  he  onely  meanes  to  civilize 
him,  and  knocke  off  his  fingers  from  base  courses  as  we  have 
knowne  some  in  our  dayes ;  God  casts  this  sorrow  into  their 
hearts  and  then  they  say  they  will  persecute  Gods  people  no 
more;  haply  they  are  naught  still,  but  God  confines  them: 
first,  God  only  rips  the  skinne  a  little  and  layeth  some  small 
blow  upon  him ;  but  if  a  man  have  been  a  rude  and  great 
ryoter  the  Lord  begins  to  serve  a  Writ  upon  him  ....  so 
that  now  the  soule  seeth  the  flashes  of  hell,  and  Gods  wrath 
upon  the  soule,  and  the  terrours  of  hell  lay  hold  upon  the 
heart,  and  he  confesseth  hee  is  so,  and  hee  hath  done  so,  and 
therefore  he  is  a  poore  damned  creature,  and  then  the  soule 
labours  to  welter  it,  and  it  may  be  his  conscience  will  bee 
deluded  by  some  carnall  Minister  that  makes  the  way  broader 

than  it  is or  else  it  may  be  hee  stops  the  mouth  of 

conscience  with  some  outward  performances,  ....  and  he 
will  pray  in  his  family,  &  heare  sermons,  &  take  up  some 
good  courses,  &  thus  he  takes  up  a  quiet  civill  course,  and 
stayeth  here  awhile,  and  at  last  comes  to  nothing;  and  thus 
God  leaves  him  in  the  lurch,  if  he  meanes  onely  to  civilize 
him. 


-■^  T/ie  Vnbeleevers  Preparitig  for  Christ  (1638),  pp.  138-140. 


1629-1647-]  HOOKER'S    WRITINGS. 


135 


But  secondly,  if  God  intends  to  doe  good  to  a  man,  he  will 

not  let  him  goe  thus,  and  fall  to  a  civile   course If 

God  love  a  sinner,  and  meane  to  doe  good  to  him  ;  hee  will 
not  let  him  looke  off  his  sinne  ;  the  Lord  will  ferret  him  from 
his  denne,  and  from  his  base  courses  and  practices  :  He  will 
be  with  you  in  all  your  stealing  and  pilfering,  and  in  all  your 
cursed  devices,  if  you  belong  to  him  hee  will  not  give  you 

over Now  the  soule  is  beyond  all  shift ;  when  it  is 

day  hee  wisheth  it  were  night,  and  when  it  isnight  hee  wisheth 
it  were  day  ;  the  wrath  of  God  followeth  him  withersoever 
he  goeth,  and  the  soule  would  faine  be  rid  of  this,  but  hee 
cannot  ;  and  yet  all  the  while  the  soule  is  not  heavy  and  sor- 
rowful for  sinne  :  hee  is  burdened,  and  could  be  content  to 
throw  away  the  punishment  and  horror  of  sin,  but  not  the 
sweet  of  sinne  :  as  it  is  with  a  child  that  takes  a  live  coale 
in  his  hand  thinking  to  play  with  it,  when  hee  feels  fire  in  it 
hee  throwes  it  away  :  hee  doth  not  throw  it  away  because  it 
is  black  but  because  it  burnes  him  :  So  it  is  here :  A  sinful 
wretch  will  throw  away  his  sinne  because  of  the  wrath  of 
God  that  is  due  to  him  for  it,  and  the  drunkard  will  be  drunke 
no  more  ;  but  if  hee  might  have  his  queanes  and  his  pots 
without  any  punishment  or  trouble,  hee  would  have  them 
with  all*  his  heart  ;  hee  loves  the  black  and  sweet  of  sinne 
well  enough,  but  he  loves  not  the  plague  of  sinne 

"  Now  in  the  third  place,  if  the  Lord  purpose  to  doe  good 
to  the  soule,  hee  will  not  suffer  him  to  be  quiet  here,  but  hee 
openeth  the  eye  of  the  soule  further ;  and  makes  him  sorrow, 
not  because  it  is  a  great  and  shamefull  sinne,  but  the  Lord 
saith  to  the  soule  :  Even  the  least  sinne  makes  a  separation 
between  mee  and  thee  ;  and  the  heart  begins  to  reason  thus  : 
Lord,  is  this  true  ?  is  this  the  smart  of  sinne  ?  and  is  this  the 
vile  nature  of  sinne?  O  Lord  !  how  odious  are  these  abom- 
inations that  cause  this  evill ;  and  though  they  had  not 
caused  this  evill,  yet  this  is  worse  than  the  evill,  that  they 
make  a  separation  betweene  God  and  my  soule.  Good  Lord 
why  was  I  borne  ?  "  '^' 


-''  T/ie  Soules  Preparation,  (1632).  pp.  131-136. 


136  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [1629-1647. 

So  that  if  God  really  intends  to  save  a  man,  he  does  not 
stop  with  any  "  Morall  and  external]  drawing" — 

"  For  this  will  not  doe  it,  this  is  only  an  outward  drawing  ; 
but  when  the  Lord  is  pleased  to  put  a  new  power  into  the 
soule  of  a  sinner,  and  withall  to  carry  the  will  to  the  object 
propounded  that  it  may  embrace  it;  when  God  is  pleased, 
not  only  to  offer  good  things  to  the  soule  but  to  enable  the 
soule  to  lay  hold  upon  the  things  offered  ;  not  only  to  offer 
Christ  and  his  salvation,  but  to  work  effectually  upon  the 
heart,  and  make  it  able  to  give  entertainment  to  Christ,  then 

the  Lord  is  said  to   draw  a  sinner  to   himselfe I 

express  it  thus,  looke  as  it  is  with  the  wheele  of  a  clock,  or 
the  wheele  of  a  Jack  that  is  turned  aside,  and  by  some  con- 
trary poyse  set  the  wrong  way.  He  now  that  will  set  this 
wheele  right  must  take  away  the  contrary  poyse,  and  then 
put  the  wheqle  the  right  way  ;  and  yet  the  wheele  doth  not 
goe  all  this  while  of  itself,  but  iirst  there  is  a  stopping  of  the 
wheele  and  a  taking  away  of  the  po3'se  :  and  secondly  the 
wheele  must  be  turned  the  right  way  ;  and  all  this  while  the 
wheele  is  only  a  sufferer ;  so  it  is  with  the  soule  of  a  man, 
the  heart  of  a  man,  and  the  will  of  a  man,  and  the  affections 
of  a  man ;  they  are  the  wheeles  of  the  soules  of  n\en ;  the 
Lord  Jesus  made  them  at  the  first  to  runne  to  heaven-ward 
and  to  God-ward,  but  when  Adam  sinned,  then  the  poyse  of 
corruptions  prevailed  so  farre  forth  over  them,  that  they 
drew  the  heart,  the  mind,  the  will  of  man  from  God,  and 
made  it  runne  the  wrong  way  to  the  divell-ward  and  to 
hell-ward  ;  now  when  the  Lord  cometh  to  set  these  wheeles 
aright,  he  must  take  away  the  poyse  and  plummet  that  made 
them  runne  the  wrong  way  ;  that  is,  the  Lord  by  his  almighty 
power  must  overpower  those  sinnes  and  corruptions  which 

harbour  in  the  soule and  then  the  frame  of  the  soule 

will  be  to  God-ward,  it  will  be  in  a  right  frame  and  order,  it 
will  runne  the  right  way,  and  all  this  while  the  will  is  only  a 
sufferer,  and  this  I  take  to  be  the  meaning  of  the  text ;  That 
God  by  a  kind  of  holy  violence,  rendeth  the  soule  of  a  poore 
sinner,  and  withall  by  his  almighty  power  stops  the  force  of 


\ 


1629-1647.I  HOOKER'S    WRITINGS.  j^7 

a  mans  corruptions,  and  makes  the  soule  teachable,  and  fram- 
able  to  the  will  of  God :  it  makes  it  to  lie  levell,  and  to  be 
at  Gods  command ;  and  this  is  done  by  a  holy  kind  of  vio- 
lence." '' 

y  But  once  this  sovereign  effectual  work  of  grace  is  wrought 
in  a  man's  soul  and  there  is  no  end  to  the  consolations  of  the 
gospel. 

"  It  is  a  word  of  consolation,  and  it  is  a  cordiall  to  cheare  up  a 
man's  heart  and  carry  him  through  all  troubles  whatsoever  can 
betide  him  or  shall  befall  him.  This  doctrine  of  Justification  it 
seems  to  me  to  be  like  Noahs  Arke,  when  all  the  world  was  to 
bee  drowned  :  God  taught  Noah  to  make  an  arke,  and  to  pitch 
it  about,  that  no  water,  nor  winds,  nor  stormes  could  breake 
through,  and  so  it  bore  up  Noah  above  the  waters,  and  kept 
him  safe  against  wind  and  weather  ;  when  one  was  on  the  top 
of  a  mountain  crying  :  O  save  me,  another  clambering  upon 
the  trees,  all  floting,  and  crying,  and  dying  there  ;  there  was 
no  saving  but  for  those  only  that  were  gotten  into  the  arke  : 
Oh  so  it  will  be  with  you  poore  foolish  beleevers,  the  world  is 
like  this  sea,  wherein  are  many  floods  of  water,  many  troubles, 
much  persecution  :  Oh  get  you  into  the  arke  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  when  one  is  roring  and  yelling,  Oh  the  devill,  the 
devill  ;  another  is  ready  to  hang  himselfe,  or  to  cut  his  owne 
throat ;  another  sends  for  a  Minister,  and  hee  crieth,  Oh 
there  is  no  mercy  for  mee,  I  have  opposed  it ;  Get  you  into 
Christ,  I  say,  and  you  shall  bee  safe  I  will  warrant  you  ;  your 
soules  shall  bee  transported  with  consolation  to  the  end  of 
your  hopes."  ""^ 

Such  a  consolation  stands  by  a  man  in  time  of  tribulation: 

"  Notwithstanding  temptation,  notwithstanding  persecu- 
tion, notwithstanding  opposition,  notwithstanding  anything 
that  may  befall  you  for  the  present,  or  anything  you  may 
feare  for  the  future  time,  cheare  up  your  drooping  spirits  in 


"^^  Preparing  for  Christ,  (1638,)  pp.   24-26. 
'■'^  The  Soules  Exaltation,  (1638,)  pp.  122-3. 
18 


138  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1629-1647. 

the  consideration  hereof,  and  be  forever  comforted,  forever 
contented,  forever  refreshed ;  you  have  a  faire  portion ; 
what  would  you  have?  what  can  you  desire?  what  would 
quiet  you  ?  what  will  content  you  ?  would  the  wisdome 
of  a  Christ  satisfie  you  ?  would  the  sanctification  of  a  Christ 
please  you?  would  the  redemption  of  a  Christ  cheare  you? 
you  complaine  your  hearts  are  hard,  your  sinnes  great,  and 
yourselves  miserable,  and  many  are  the  troubles  that  lie  upon 
you ;  will  the  redemption  of  a  Christ  now  satisfie  you  ? 
If  this  will  doe  it,  it  is  all  yours;  his  wisdom  is  yours,  his 
righteousness  is  yours,  his  sanctification  is  yours,  all  that  he 
hath  is  yours,  and  I  thinke  this  is  sufficient  if  you  know  when 
you  are  well.  Therefore  goe  away  cheared,  goe  away  com- 
forted." =° 

And  it  will  stand  by  one  in  the  time  of  death  : 
"  The  death  of  the  beleever  is  amean  to  bring  and  estate  them 
into  the  full  possession  of  all  that  happinesse  and  glory,  which 
heretofore  hath  beene  expected,  and  Christ  hath  promised ; 
now  it  shall  be  attained  ;  the  time  now  comes  when  the 
Saints  of  God  shall  have  no  more  teares  in  their  eyes,  nor  sin 
in  their  soules,  nor  sorrow  in  their  hearts ;  when  they  die, 
then  their  sins  and  sorrows  die,  too  ;  you  shal  never  be  dead- 
harted  more ;  then  you  shal  have  holines  in  ful  possession, 
which  so  long  time  you  have  longed  for  ;  it  is  now  only  in 
expectation,  and  you  hope  and  looke  for  it,  ...  but  when 
death  comes  it  will  bring  you  the  fruition  of  all  that  holinesse 
and  happinesse.  .  .  .  Now  you  are  children,  but  only  in  non- 
age; now  you  are  wives,  betrothed,  and  you  goe  up  and 
downe  in  your  rags  of  sinne  ;  but  when  the  solemnization  of 
the  marriage  shall  bee  in  the  great  day  of  accounts,  then  we 
shall  be  like  him,  and  hee  will  make  us  altogether  holy,  and 
he  will  fill  our  blinde  mindes  with  knowledge,  and  possess 
our  corrupt  hearts  with  all  puritie,  holinesse,  and  grace,  so  far 
as  thy  soule  shall  be  capable  of  it,  and  shall  bee  needfull  for 
thee.     What !  are  you  unwilling  to  goe  to  your  husband?'"^' 


30  Ibid,  pp.  84,  85. 

31  Ibid,  pp.  210-11. 


1629-1647.]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  I,g 

And  of  this  blessed  estate  the  Spirit  of  God  gives  witness : 

"  The  spirit  doth  evidence  to  the  soule,  broken  and  hum- 
bled, that  the  soule  hath  an  interest  in  this  mercy,  that  it 
was  appointed  for  it,  and  he  hath  to  meddle  with  it.  .  . 

We  may  observe  that  a  witnesse  in  a  cause  doth  marvel- 
lously cleare  it,  if  he  be  wise  and  judicious  ;  and  the  thing 
that  before  was  doubtfull  comes  now  to  be  apparent ;  as  now 
in  a  point  of  Law,  two  men  contend  for  land  ;  now,  if  an 
ancient  wise  man  is  called  before  the  Judge  at  the  Assizes, 
and  hee  beares  witnesse  upon  his  knowledge  that  such  lands 
have  beene  in  the  possession  of  such  a  generation  or  family 
for  the  space  of  many  yeares,  this  is  a  speciall  testification 
that  this  man,  being  of  that  generation,  hath  an  interest  in 
those  lands  ;  so  it  is  with  the  witnesse  of  Gods  Spirit ;  there 
is  a  controversie  between  Satan  and  the  Soule;  the  soul 
saith :  Oh,  that  grace  and  compassion  might  be  bestowed  on 
mee  !  Why  {saith  Satan),  dost  thou  conceive  of  any  mercy, 
or  grace  and  salvation  ?  marke  thy  rebellions  against  thy 
Saviour  ;  marke  the  wretched  distempers  of  thy  heart,  and  the 
filthy  abominations  of  thy  life  ;  dost  thou  think  of  mercy  ? 
....  Now,  the  Spirit  of  God  coming  in,  that  casts  the  cause 
and  makes  it  evident  if  such  a  poore  heart  have  interest,  and 
may  meddle  and  make  challenge  to  mercy  because  it  hath 
beene  prepared  for  them  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to 
this  very  day.  Now  this  gives  a  light  into  the  businesse,  & 
the  evidence  is  sure  that  this  man  hath  title  to  all  the  riches 
and  compassion  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ;  Acts  ii,  39.  Every  poore 
creature  thinkes  that  God  thinkes  so  of  him  as  hee  thinkes 

of  himself e, whereas  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  judgeth 

otherwise,  and  God  meanes  well  toward  him,  and  intends 
good  to  all  you  that  have  been  broken  for  your  sins ;  and 
there  is  witness  of  it  in  heaven,  and  it  shall  be  made  good 
in  your  owne  consciences."  ^'^ 

And  therefore  God's  people  ought  to  live  cheerfully  and 
victoriously  : 

"  It  is  a  marvellous  great  shame  to  see  those  that  are  borne 


^'^  The  Soules  Effectvall  Calling,  (1638,)  pp.  79,  80. 


I40  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1629-1647. 

to  faire  meanes,  I  meane  the  poore  saints, of  God,  that  have 
a  right  and  title  to  grace  and  Christ,  and  yet  to  live  at  such 
an  under  rate :  I  would  have  you  to  live  above  the  world, 
though  thou  hast  not  a  coat  to  cover  thee,  nor  a  house  to  put 
thy  head  in  ;  yet  if  thou  hast  faith,  thou  art  a  rich  man  ; 
therefore  husband  thy  estate  well.  It  is  a  shame,  I  say,  to 
see  them  that  they  cannot  husband  that  happy  estate  which 
they  have  ;  they  live  as  if  they  had  it  not,  so  full  of  want,  so 
full  of  care  and  pride,  so  weake,  and  unable  to  master  their 
sinnes  ;  whereas  the  fault  is  not  in  the  power  of  faith,  nor  the 
promise,  nor  in  the  Lord,  for  the  Lord  doth  not  grudge  his 
people  of  comfort,  but  would  have  them  live  cheerfully,  and 
have  strong  consolations,  and  mighty  assurance  of  God's  love. 
And  therefore  the  text  saith:  Rejoyce  in  the  Lordalwayes!'  " 

^      Mr.  Hooker's  observations  about  the  general  period  of  the 
\      effectual  call  of  men,  have  a  certain  interest  : 

"  Some  are  called  in  their  youth,  some  in  their  middle  age, 
"^  some  in  their  old  age,  some  in  the  tender  yeares,  some  in 
their  riper  age  ;  some  old,  some  young ;  but  this  is  most  true, 
that  those  whom  God  doth  call,  it  is  most  commonly  in  their 
middle  age,  before  they  come  to  their  old  age;  this  is  the  gen- 
erall  course  of  God  ;  he  calls  many  before,  some  after,  but 
most  then  ;  Eccles.  iii,  i.  There  the  wise  man  observes  that 
there  is  a  time  appointed  for  every  purpose,  and  it  appeareth 
that  the  middle  age  is  the  fittest  time  for  this  purpose  .... 
for  it  is  observed  by  Philosophers  that  a  man  in  his  tender 
infancie  lives  the  life  of  a  tree  onely,  he  onely  eates  and 
growes  ;  and  so  it  is  with  little  children  in  their  swadling 
cloathes  ;  afterwards,  when  bee  comes  to  further  yeares,  when 
he  comes  to  be  ten  or  twelve  yeares  old,  then  hee  lives  the  life 
of  a  beast ;  he  is  taken  away  with  these  objects  that  are  then 
most  suitable  to  him  ;  for  a  child  to  consider  of  the  mysteries 
of  life  &  salvation  is  almost  impossible ;  he  is  not  yet  come 
to  that  ripenesse  of  judgement ;  but  when  he  comes  to  the 
ripenesse  of  his  yeares,  from  20  yeares  untill  he  comes  to  be 

^^  Ibid,  p.  619. 


1629-1647-]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  I4I 

40,  or  thereabouts,  then  the  workes  of  reason  put  forth  them- 
selves, then  his  apprehension  is  quick  to  conceive  a  thing, 
and  his  memory  is  strong  and  pregnant  to  retaine  a  thing 

apprehended,  and  his  heart  is  somewhat  plyable, 

therefore  then  is  the  fittest  time  that  God  should  bestow  his 
graces  upon  a  man.  Looke  as  it  is  with  waxe ;  if  a  man 
melt  it,  it  will  be  too  soft  to  hold  any  impression,  and  when 
it  is  hard  it  will  receive  no  seale  neither,  .  .  it  must  be  nei- 
ther too  extremely  hot,  nor  too  hard,  but  mediately  disposed, 
and  then  it  will  receive  a  seale  ;  so  it  is  with  the  nature  of  a 
man ;  in  his  tender  yeares  hee  can  hold  nothing,  he  hath  such 
a  weake  understanding.  Tell  a  child  of  the  wonders  of  sal- 
vation, and  it  is  impossible,  unlesse  God  workes  wonderfully, 
that  hee  should  receive  them ;  a  mans  nature  in  his  infancie, 
is  like  waxe  that  is  too  softj^  and  the  nature  of  an  old  man  is 
like  waxe  too  hard  ;  but  now  a  middle  aged  man  is  neither  so 
weake  as  the  one,  nor  so  hard  as  the  other,  but  it  is  most  fit 
for  God  to  put  a  stamp  upon,  for  his  heart  is  the  most  ply- 
able  to  receive  the  things  of  grace."  ^^ 

One  quotation  more  must  suffice.  The  topic  treated  of  is 
"  What  is  a  powerful  minister  .-'  " 

"  The  word  is  compared  to  a  sword :  as,  if  a  man  should 
draw  a  sword  and  flourish  it  about,  and  should  not  strike  a 
blow  with  it,  it  will  doe  no  harme ;  even  so  it  is  here  with 
the  Ministers,  little  good  will  they  doe  if  they  doe  onely  ex- 
plicate ;  if  they  doe  onley  draw  out  the  sword  of  the  Spirit : 
for  unlesse  they  apply  it  to  the  peoples  hearts  particularly, 
little  good  may  the  people  expect,  little  good  shall  the  Minis- 
ter doe.  A  common  kind  of  teaching  when  the  Minister  doth 
speake  only  hoveringly,  and  in  the  generall,  and  never  applies 
the  word  of  God  particularly,  may  be  compared  to  the  con- 
fused noise  that  was  in  the  ship  wherein  JoiiaJi  was,  when 
the  winds  blew,  and  the  sea  raged,  and  a  great  storm  began 
to  arise.  The  poore  Marriners  strove  with  might  and  maine, 
and  they  did  endeavour  by  all  meanes  possible  to  bring  the 


Preparing  for  Christ,  pp.  198-200. 


142  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1629-1647. 

ship  to  the  shore;  every  one  cried  unto  his  god  and  cast  their 
wares  into  the  sea,  and  all  this  while  yonas  was  fast  asleepe 
in  the  ship  :  but  when  the  Marriners  came  down  and  plucked 
him  up,  and  said,  Arise,  tJioii  sleeper,  .  .  WJio  art  tJion? 
Call  upon  thy  God,  then  he  was  awakened  out  of  his  sleepe. 
The  common  delivery  of  the  word  is  like  that  confused  noise : 
there  is  matter  of  heaven,  of  hell,  of  grace,  of  sin  spoken  of, 
there  is  a  common  noise,  and  all  this  while  men  sit  and  sleepe 
carelessly,  and  never  looke  about  them,  but  rest  secure :  but 
when  particular  application  comes,  that  shakes  a  sinner,  as 
the  Pilot  did  yoiiah,  and  asks  him.  What  assurance  of  God's 
mercy  hast  thou  ?  what  hope  of  pardon  of  sinnes  ?  of  life 
and  happinesse  hereafter  ?  You  are  baptized,  and  so  were 
many  that  are  in  hell :  you  come  to  Church,  and  so  did  many 
that  are  in  hell :  but  what  is  youR  conversation  in  the  mean- 
time ?     Is  that  holy  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man  ? 

"  When  the  Ministers  of  God  shake  men  and  take  them 
up  on  this  fashion  then  they  begin  to  stirre  up  themselves, 
and  to  consider  of  their  estates.  This  generall  and  common 
kind  of  teaching  is  like  an  enditement  without  a  name :  if  a 
man  should  come  to  the  assizes,  and  make  a  great  exclamation 
and  have  no  name  to  his  enditement,  alas,  no  man  is  troubled 
with  it,  no  man  feares  it,  no  man  shall  receive  any  punishment 
by  reason  of  it.  So  it  is  with  this  common  kind  of  preach- 
ing, it  is  an  enditement  without  a  name.  We  arrest  none 
before  wee  particularly  arraigne  them  before  the  tribunall  of 
the  Lord,  and  show  them  these  and  these  are  their  sinnes, 
and  that  unless  they  repent  and  forsake  them  they  shall  be 
damned :  for  then  this  would  stirre  them  up,  and  make  them 
seke  to  the  Lord  for  mercy ;  this  would  rowse  them  out  of 
their  security,  and  awaken  them,  and  make  them  say  as  the 
Jewes  did  to  Peter  and  the  rest  of  the  Apostles,  Men  and 
brethren,  zuhat  shall  wee  doe  to  bee  saved  f'  ^" 

The  foregoing  quotations  give  a  fair  specimen  of  Hooker's 
style.     But  they  only  partially  indicate  the  wonderful  variety 


»/ 


^  The  Soul es  Implantation,  (1640,)  pp.  73-77. 


1629-1647]  HOOKER'S   WRITINGS.  I43 

of  pat,  homely,  forcible  illustration,  and  of  pungent,  search- 
ing, and  energetic  application,  with  which  the  same  essential 
theme  is  treated  in  most  of  his  many  volumes.     But  they  are 
sufficient  to  make  evident  that  such  a  preacher  was  sure  of 
hearers.     Such  an  analyst  of  human   emotions  must  touch 
men'  at  many  points.     A  son  of  thunder  and  a  son  of  con-  7 
solation  by  turns,  his   ministry — whatever  the  extravagances  \ 
or  the  defects  of  his  theology — must  have   been  anywhere  J 
and  in  any  age  powerful. 

Mr.  Hooker's  Survey  of  the  Simime  of  CImrch-Discipline 
stands,  as  has  been  said,  apart  from  all  his  other  writings,  in 
the  character  of  a  controversial  essay,  not  addressed  to 
listening  auditors  or  upon  an  experimentally  religious  theme. 
As  such,  it  gives  opportunity,  more  than  do  the  other 
volumes  written  by  him,  for  the  indication  of  his  really  pro- 
found learning,  and  his  extraordinary  acuteness  as  a  logician. 
It  justifies  Dr.  Ames'  observation  concerning  him,  that  he 
had  never  met  with  Mr.  Hooker's  equal  for  "disputing;"  '" 
by  which  he  meant,  strenuous  debate  and  discussion. 

Nevertheless  it  cannot  be  denied  that  the  controversial 
character  of  the  treatise,  and  its  minute  and  laborious  con- 
futations of  the  positions  of  Mr.  Rutherford's  book,  to  which 
it  was  written  as  a,  reply,  have  put  it  at  a  disadvantage,  as  to 
popular  interest  and  impression,  when  compared,  for  exam- 
ple, with  John  Cotton's  Way  of  the  Churches  in  New  Eng- 
land, or  his  Keyes  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  The  reader 
everywhere  admires  the  subtlety  of  the  author's  analysis, 
and  the  vigor  and  acuteness  of  his  rejoinders;  but  he  wearies 
of  the  endless  process  of  replication  to  statements  made  in 
the  volume  controverted.  It  is  a  vast  pity,  so  far  as  the 
general  popular  effect  of  Mr.  Hooker's  ecclesiastical  instruc- 


^  Magnalia,  i,  308. 


144  '^^^   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1629-1647. 

tions  is  concerned,  and  the  vitality  of  his  repute  as  a  Con- 
gregational authority,  that  he  did  not  leave  his  teachings  in 
the  form  of  a  simple,  direct  treatise  on  what  he  conceived  to 
be  the  Scriptural,  and  what  he  helped  to  make  the  New 
England  way,  rather  than  so  imbedded  in  and  combined  with 
such  a  mass  of  polemic  detail.  That  he  could  easily  have 
written  such  a  plain  and  straight-forward  argument,  which 
might  have  stood  the  foremost  document  of  ecclesiasti- 
cal authority  for  the  period  in  questi'on,  cannot  be  doubted 
by  any  one  who  considers  either  his  general  capacity  as  a 
writer,  or  who  more  particularly  regards  the  brief  and  admir- 
able statement  of  the  main  positions  advocated  by  him  in 
the  Survey,  as  given  by  him  in  the  Preface  to  his  volume ; 
with  the  quotation  of  which  statement  this  chapter  upon 
Mr.  Hooker's  writings  may  well  conclude. 

"/  shall  plainly  and  piiuctually  expresse  my  self  in  a  zvord 
of  truthy  in  these  following  points,  viz. : 

"  Visible  Saints  are  the  only  true  and  meete  matter, 
whereof  a  visible  Church  should  be  gathered,  and  confoedera- 
tion  is  the  form. 

"  The  Church  as  Totnni  essentiale,  is,  and  may  be,  before 
Officers. 

"There  is  no  Presbyteriall  Church  {i.  e.  A  Church  made 
up  of  the  Elders  of  many  Congregations  appointed  Classick- 
wise,  to  rule  all  those  Congregations)  in  the  N.  T. 

"A  Church  Congregationall  is  the  first  subject  of  the 
keys. 

"Each  Congregation  compleatly  constituted  of  all  Officers, 
hath  sufficient  power  in  her  self,  to  exercise  the  power 
of  the  keyes,  and  all  Church  discipline,  in  all  the  censures 
thereof. 

"Ordination  is  not  before  election. 

"There  ought  to  be  no  ordination  of  a  Minister  at  large, 
Namely,  such  as  should  make  him.  Pastonr  without  a  People. 


1629-1747]  HOOKER'S    WRITINGS.  I^e 

"The  election  of  the  people  hath  an  instrumental!  causall 
vertue  under  Christ  to  give  an  outward  call  unto  an  Officer. 

"Ordination  is  only  a  solemn  installing  of  an  Officer  into 
the  Office,  unto  which  he  was  formerly  called. 

"Children  of  such,  who  are  members  of  Congregations, 
ought  only  to  be  baptized. 

"The  consent  of  the  people  gives  a  causal  vertue  to  the 
compleating  of  the  sentence  of  excommunication.  Whilst 
the  Church  remains  a  true  Church  of  Christ,  it  doth  not  lose 
this  power,  nor  can  it  lawfully  be  taken  away. 

"Consociation  of  Churches  should  be  used,  as  occasion 
doth  require. 

"Such  consociations  and  Synods  have  allowance  to  coun- 
sel! and  admonish  other  Churches,  as  the  case  may  require. 
And  if  they  grow  obstinate  in  errour  or  sinfull  miscarriages, 
they  should  renounce  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  with  them. 

"But  they  have  no  power  to  excommunicate. 

"Nor  do  their  constitutions  binde  formaliter  &  juridice. 

"/«  all  these  I  have  leave  to  prof  esse  the  joint  Judgement 
of  all  the  Elders  npon  the  river:  of  New-haven,  Guilford, 
Milford,  Stratford,  Fairfield :  and  of  most  of  the  Elders  of  the 
Churches  in  the  Bay,  to  zvhom  I  did  send  in  particular,  and 
did  receive  approbation  from  them  under  their  hands  :  Of  the 
rest  {to  whom  I  could  not  send)  I  cannot  so  affirm;  but  this  I 
can  say.  That  at  a  common  meeting,"  /  was  desired  by  them 
all,  to  publish  what  nozv  I  do."^^ 


^^  July  I,  1645.     See  ante,  p.  112. 

^  Since  writing  the  foregoing  pages,  a  carefully  prepared  Bibliography  of 
Mr.  Hooker's  publications  has  been  kindly  furnished  by  the  very  competent 
hand  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull.     It  will  be  found  in  Appendix  V. 
19 


CHAPTER    VII 


THE   QUARREL  IN   STONE'S   DAY. 

Upon  the  death  of  the  first  Pastor,  the  Church  does  not 
seem  to  have  contemplated  the  possibiHty  of  long  continuing 
with  the  services  of  only  one  minister.  Mr.  Stone  was  only 
forty-four  years  old,  but  the  theory  of  the  dual  ministry,  with 
which  the  New  England  churches  had  begun,  was  not  yet 
worn  out.  So,  measures  were  taken  to  secure  a  successor  to 
Mr.  Hooker. 

The  seed  planted  in  the  founding  of  Harvard  College,  in 
1636,  had  already  begun  to  bear  fruit.  As  early  as  1644, 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut  had  taken  measures  "  conserneing 
the  mayntenaunce  of  scollers  at  Cambridge,"  ordering  "that 
2  men  shalbe  appoynted  in  euery  Towne  w'^^jn  this  Jurisdic- 
tion who  shall  demaund  whch  euery  family  will  giue"  to  that 
object.'  And  now  the  Hartford  Church,  whose  members  had 
been  contributors  to  the  "  scollers"  at  the  college,  turned  to 
one  of  them  as  the  successor  of  their  Pastor.  This  was 
Jonathan  Mitchell,  born  in  Halifax,  in  England,  in  1624,  now 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  destined,  though  dying  early,^ 
to  be  one  of  the  most  famous  of  New  England's  ministers. 
He  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1647,  and  was  apparently  pursu- 
ing a  course  of  study  in  divinity,  when  "  the  Church  of  Hart- 
ford ....  being  therein  Countenanced  and  Encouraged  by 


'  Col.  Rec,  i,  112. 

'^  July  9,  1668,  aged  about  44. 


1653-1659-]       EFFORTS    FOR   HOOKER'S   SUCCESSOR.  147 

Mr.  Stone,  sent  a  Man,  an  Horse,  above  an  Hundred  miles, 
to  obtain  a  visit  from  him,  in  expectation  to  make  him  the 
Successor  of  their  ever  famous  Hooker."^ 

Mr.  Mitchell  came  and  preached  on  the  first  occasion  of 
his  public  ministry  anywhere,  in  this  place,  June  24,  1649. 
He,  himself,  was  much  depressed  by  the  performance.  But, 
it  appears,  the  congregation  was  not.  For,  "that  judicious 
Assembly  of  Christians  ....  in  a  Meeting  the  Day  following 
Concluded  to  give  him  an  Invitation  to  Settle  among  them ;" 
adding,  that  if  he  wished  "to  continue  a  year  longer  at  the 
Colledge  they  would  ....  advance  a  considerable  Sum  of 
Money,  to  assist  him  in  furnishing  himself  with  a  Library."  *^ 
Mr.  Mitchell  was  not,  however,  to  become  Pastor  of  the 
Hartford  Church.  He  had  made  certain  partial  promises  to 
Mr.  Shepard,  of  Cambridge,  to  come  back  untrammeled 
from  his  Hartford  expedition.  He  speedily  preached  in 
Mr.  Shepard's  pulpit,  and  ■  on  Mr.  Shepard's  death,  which 
happened  almost  immediately  after,"  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  that  church,  and  was  ordained  there  on  August 

2ISt,  1650. 

It  is  probable  that  it  was  with  more  or  less  similar  intent 
toward  providing  a  successor  in  the  vacant  office — though 
with  no  such  unanimity  of  action  on  the  part  of  the  congre- 
gation— that,  at  least,  three  other  men  preached  in  Hartford, 
for  periods  of  uncertain  extent,  before  the  Church  secured  an 
associate  for  Mr.  Stone. 

The  first  of  these  was  the  afterward  celebrated  Michael 
Wigglesworth,  concerning  the  troublesome  results  of  whose 
candidacy  in  this  Church,  for  which  he  appears  to  have  been 


^ Magnalia,  ii,  72. 

*  Ibid. 

s  Aug.  25,  1649. 


148  THE  FIRST   CHURCH   IN^  HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

no  way  responsible,  there  will  be  ample  and  deplorable  occa- 
sion hereafter,  more  fully  to  speak.  Just  here,  it  is  enough 
to  say  that  Mr,  Wiggles  worth  was  born  in  England,  in  1631, 
brought  in  childhood  to  New  England,  educated  in  youth  at 
Ezekiel  Cheever's  school  in  New  Haven,  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  165 1.  In  April,  1654,  being  then  twenty-three 
years  old,  he  "stayd  a  fFourtnight  at  Hartford,"  and  preached." 
But  he  had,  apparently,  not  only  preached  there  previously, 
but  had 'received  from  Mr.  Stone,  and,  perhaps,  from  the 
Church  of  Hartford,  certain  overtures  the  year  previously, 
the  precise  nature  of  which  cannot  be  determined.  For  he 
says,  in  his  Diary,  under  date  of  August  27th,  1653,  "I  am 
both  in  a  strait  how  to  ansW  Mr.  Stone's  motion  &  attend 
my  father's  counsel.  I  know  not  w'  gods  mind  may  be  I 
am  in  ye  dark."  And  again,  under  date  of  Sept.  lOth,  of  the 
same  year,  he  writes:  "I  am  at  a  strait  concern,  my  answer 
to  Hartford  motion ;  I  am  indifferet  to  engage  or  not,  to  look 
toward  England  or  not,  if  I  could  be  clear  in  gods  call." 
But  these  overtures,  whatever  they  were,  failed,  partly  for 
reasons  we  shall  afterwards  more  distinctly  discern,  to 
bring  Mr.  Wigglesworth  to  Hartford  as  a  home.  His  Diary, 
under  date  of  17th  of  July,  1655,  speaks  of  the  "Maldon 
Invitation."  He  was,  at  some  uncertain  date,  ordained  at 
Maiden,  Mass.,  where  his  pastoral  connection,  amid  many 


•^  Wigglesworth's  Ma7mscript  Diary.  Mass.  Hist.  Society.  The  diary  shows 
him  again  in  Hartford,  in  March,  1655,  staying  some  time.  On  this  occasion  he 
"got  2  horses  at  Wethersfield,"  of  John  Latimer,  March  24,  to  "take  my  moth, 
to  New  Hauen."  His  mother  had  come  up  to  Hartford  to  meet  him,  March  loth. 
John  Latimer  (fined  August  i,  1639,  for  "vnseasonable  and  imoderate  drink- 
ing," but  serving  as  an  honorable  juryman  afterward)  seems  to  have  been  a 
horse-letting  character.  The  General  Court,  February  23,  1652,  passed  this 
resolve :  "This  Courte  Considering  John  Lattimor's  loss  in  his  horse  that  dyed 
in  the  Bay,  being  not  willing  that  the  whole  loss  should  lye  upon  him,  they  are 
willing  to  allow  him  out  of  the  publick  treasury  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds 
towards  his  horse."     Pub.  Rec,  i,  237. 


i653-i6S9-]       EFFORTS   FOR  HOOKER'S   SUCCESSOR.  i^q 

vicissitudes  on  account  of  his  physical  infirmity,  continued 
till  his  death,  June  lo,  1705.' 

John  Davis,  too,  a  classmate  of  Wigglesworth  at  college, 
son  of  William  Davis  of  New  Haven,  preached,  as  well  as 
taught  school,  in  Hartford  in  1655.  The  town  made  grants 
to  him  in  payment  for  both  kinds  of  service. "  He  was  a 
young  man  of  learning  and  promise,  but,  sailing  in  Novem- 
ber, 1657,  on  a  voyage  to  England,  was,  together  with  the 
vessel,  "  never  heard  of  more." 

Later  still,  for  a  more  protracted  period,  John  Cotton,  son 
of  the  famous  minister  of  the  Boston  church — who  was  born 
in  1640,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1657,  and  who  studied 
divinity  with  Mr.  Stone — preached  in  Hartford.  In  1659  the 
town  "did  grant  a  rate  of  thirty  pounds  to  be  paid  to  Mr. 
Cotton  for  his  labours  amongst  us,  and  his  charges  in  coming 
up  to  us,  the  half  of  it  to  be  paid  presently  and  the  other 
half  to  be  paid  at  the  end  of  the  year." '     This  seemed  like 


■^  Mr.  Wigglesworth  was  the  author  of  the  Day  of  Doom,  and  several  other 
metrical  "  Composures."  He  was  also  a  physician  and  practiced  medicine  at 
Maiden.  He  had  many  breaks  in  his  ministry,  owing  to  ill  health,  being,  appar- 
ently, at  one  time,  laid  by  for  nearly  twenty  years ;  but  in  his  age  was  so  much 
better  that  Cotton  Mather,  in  his  funeral  sermon,  was  able  to  say  of  him :  •'  It 
was  a  surprise  unto  us  to  see  a  Little  Feeble  Shadow  of  a  Man,  beyond  Seventy, 
Preaching  usually  Twice  or  Thrice  in  a  Week;  Visiting  and  Comforting  the 
Afflicted;  Encouraging  the  Private  Meeti7igs,  ....  and  attending  the  Sick, 
not  only  as  Pastor  but  as  Physician  too."  See  Sibley's  Harvard  Graduates, 
vol.  i,  259-286. 

*  "  The  precise  time  of  his  coming  or  going  is  uncertain.  The  town  allowed 
him  ;!f  10  'for  preaching  and  schooling  '  to  the  7th  of  February,  1655-6,  and 
payment  of  an  unpaid  balance  due  him  was  ordered  by  the  town,  May  28, 
1656.  A  memorandum  on  the  Town  Records  shows  that  the  sum  stipulated  to 
be  paid  to  Mr.  Davis  for  the  year  1655,  was  contributed  or  advanced  before  Jan- 
uary 20,  1655-6,  by  six  individuals — John  Richards,  John  White,  [Samuel] 
Fitch,  James  Steele,  Francis  Barnard,  and  the  widow  of  Wm.  Gibbons — all  of 
the  'South  Side'  of  Hartford,  and  three  or  four  of  whom  were  among  the 
'  withdrawers '  from  the  First  church  in  1656,  or  became  members  of  the  Sec- 
ond church  in  1669-70."     J.  H.  Trumbull,  in  Conii.  Hist.  Coll.,  ii,  p.  54. 

y  Town  Records.  At  the  same  date  "  Capt.  Lord  and  Mr.  John  Allen  "  were 
appointed  "to  make  Mr.  Cotton's  rate."     The  Colonial  Pecords  preseTve  (i, p. 


I^o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

something  of  permanence,  but  Mr.  Cotton,  after  three  or  four 
years'  residence  here  and  at  Wethersfield,  returned  to  Boston 
unordained. 

During  this  period  of  more  or  less  distinct  effort  to  supply 
the  vacant  pastorate,  one  or  two  items  of  public  action  may 
be  noted,  which  doubtless  the  Hartford  Church  had  its  share 
in.  A  code  of  laws  was  adopted  by  the  General  Court  in 
May  1650,  which,  among  other  provisions,  ordained  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"  This  Courte,  judging  it  necessary  that  somemeanes  should 
bee  vsed  to  conuey  the  lighte  and  knowledge  of  God  and  his 
Worde  to  the  Indians  and  Natiues  amongst  vs,  doe  order  that 
one  of  the  teaching  Elders  of  the  Churches  in  this  Juriss- 
diction,  with  the  helpe  of  Thomas  Stanton,  shall  bee  desired, 
twise  at  least  in  every  yeare,  to  goe  among  the  neighboring 
Indians  and  indeauou'  to  make  knowne  unto  them  the  Coun- 
cells  of  the  Lord."  '" 

And  later,  September  23,  1654,  the  Commissioners  of  the 
United  Colonies  took  the  following  action,  in  which  the  part 
of  this  Church  is  more  definitely  seen  : 

"  Vpon  a  motion  made  to  y^  Commissioners  by  Capt.  Cul- 
lick  from  the  General!  Courte  of  Connecticott  to  take  into 
y'^  consideration  y'  instruction  of  y"  Indians  in  theire  Juris- 
diction, in  y*^  knowledge  of  God,  and  their  desire  y'  John 
Minor  might  bee  entertained  as  an  interpreter  to  communi- 
cate to  y^  said  Indians  those  instructions  w'*'  shall  be  deliu- 


346)  the  appointment,  April  ii,  1 660-1,  of  individuals  "  to  assist  Mr.  Jo:  Cotton 
in  administration"  of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Welles  ;  and  (p.  359)  Mr.  Cotton's 
admission  as  freeman  of  the  Colony,  March  14,  1660-1.  Mr.  Cotton's  subse- 
quent experiences,  after  leaving  Connecticut,  were  diversified.  He  was  ex- 
communicated from  the  Boston  church  in  1664,  restored  to  fellowship  the  same 
year,  and  went  to  Martha's  Vineyard.  He  went  to  Plymouth  in  1667,  was 
ordained  there  in  1669,  dismissed  in  1697,  in  a  church  quarrel  of  doubtful 
merits ;  went  to  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  died  there  in  September,  1699.  He  was 
a  man  of  brilliant  gifts  and  great  acquisitions.  See  Sibley,  i,  pp.  496-508. 
'"  Col.  Records,  i,  p.  531. 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL   IN   STONE'S   DAY.  151 

ered  by  Mr.  Stone,  Mr,  Newton  or  any  other  allowed  by  the 
Courte,  and  allso  y^  y"  said  Minor  may  bee  further  instructed 
and  fitted  by  Mr.  Stone  to  bee  a  meete  instrument  to  carry 
on  the  worke  of  propagating  y'  Gospell  to  y*^  Indians,  y'' 
Commissioners  ....  doe  desire  y''  Magistrates  of  Connect- 
icott  to  take  care  y*  y"  said  Minor  be  entertained  at  Mr. 
Stones  or  some  other  meet  place,  and  they  shall  order  y*  due 
allowance  bee  made  for  his  dyet  and  education  out  of  the 
corporation  stock."  " 

But  pleasant  as  are  these  tokens  of  Missionary  spirit  in 
the  Colony  and  the  Church,  it  is  not  this  which  most  fills  the 
pages  of  the  story  of  those  days.  The  period  following  a 
point  about  six  years  subsequent  to  Mr.  Hooker's  death,  till 
four  years  before  Mr.  Stone's  death — or  from  about  1653  to 
1659  inclusive — is  remembered  chiefly  for  a  quarrel  in  the 
Hartford  Church,  of  such  virulence,  contagiousness,  and  pub- 
licity, that  it  attracted  the  attention  of  all  the  churches  in 
New  England,  and  occupies  a  large  place  in  every  history  of 
early  ecclesiastical  affairs  in  this  Colony. 

From  the  perplexing  and  melancholy  details  of  this  con- 
troversy it  would  be  agreeable  to  turn  away.  But  it  is  one 
of  the  great  facts  of  the  Church's  .story  which  cannot  be 
passed  by.  And  it  is  a  controversy,  moreover,  which  all  who 
have  written  on  it,  even  from  contemporaneous  days  to  the 
present,  have  pronounced  a  difficult  one  fully  to  understand. 
Cotton  Mather  says  "  the  true  original  of  the  misimderstand- 
ing  ....  has  been  rendered  almost  as  obscure  as  the  rise 
of  Connecticut  River.  But  it  proved  in  its  unhappy  conse- 
quences, too  like  that  great  river  in  its  great  annual  inunda- 
tions, for  it  overspread  the  whole  Colony  of  Connecticut^  " 
Dr.  Benjamin  Turnbull  says,  what  "  began  the  dissension 


"  /did,  p.  265,  note. 
12  Magnalia,  i,  p.  394. 


152  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1653-1659. 

does  not  fully  appear,"  "^  but  attributes  its  origin  to  a  "  differ- 
ence between  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  and  Mr.  Goodwin,  the  rul- 
ing elder  in  the  church,  upon  some  nice  points  of  Congrega- 
tionalism." ^*  Dr.  Bacon  speaks  of  "  that  passage  in  our 
church  history  "  as  "  an  obscure  one,  the  documents  by  which 
it  might  be  illustrated  having  mostly  perished."  "  All  these 
writers  on  the  Hartford  quarrel  were  obliged  to  say  what 
they  did  respecting  it,  in  absence  of  certain  very  important 
papers  relating  to  the  controversy,  extant,  but  then  undis- 
covered. '"  The  publication  of  these  papers  in  the  Collec- 
tions of  the  Historical  Society  of  Connecticut  in  1870, 
affords,  for  the  partial  solution  of  the  trouble,  a  very  impor- 
tant assistance. 

It  has  been  customary  before  the  discovery  of  the  docu- 
ments above  referred  to  —  and  indeed  to  some  extent  since 
then  also  —  in  the  attempts  which  have  been  made  to  explain 
this  troubled  passage  in  this  Church's  history,  to  ascribe  a 
very  large  agency  in  it,  to  the  agitation  of  questions  con- 
cerning baptism  and  the  rights  of  children  of  baptized 
parents  who  were  not  themselves  church  members  — 
questions  which  began,  certainly,  to  be  mooted  before  this 
period,  and  which  came  to  open  and  demonstrated  conflict  in 
the  rupture  of  the  Church  in  1670.    But  it  may  well  be  ques- 


'^  Trumbull,  i,  p.  308. 

"  /did,  p.  297. 

'^  Cotitribidions  to  Conn.  Eccl.  Hist.,  p.  15. 

^•^  These  papers  relating  to  the  Hartford  Church  controversy,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  three,  were  discovered  by  Dr.  Palfrey,  among  the  Landsdown  MSS. 
in  the  British  Museum.  They  are,  to  a  considerable  extent,  exparte ;  i.  e., 
it  is  the  "  Withdrawers' "  side  of  the  case  which  is  mainly  presented.  There 
are  several  of  the  Withdrawers'  letters  to  the  Church;  and  letters  to  them  by 
the  counsellors  they  sought ;  there  are  the  "  results  "  of  one  or  two  conferences 
and  Councils,  but  nowhere  a  statement  by  the  Hartford  Church  of  its  side  of 
the  controversy.  The  papers  are  in  the  Historical  Society  Collections,  vol.  ii, 
pp.  51-125. 


1653-1659-1  QUARREL   IN   STONE'S   DAY.  153 

tioned  whether  the  influence  of  this  factor  of  the  problem  has 
not  been  very  much  exaggerated  in  this  quarrel  of  Stone's  day, 
if  indeed  it  can  be  said  to  have  exerted  any  considerable 
agency.  Not  one  of  the  twenty-one  contemporaneous  docu- 
ments, of  various  authorship,  in  the  newly  discovered  papers 
published  in  the  Historical  Society  Collection,  speaks  of  this 
matter  as  in  anyway  an  issue  in  debate."  And  an  attentive 
reading  of  the  careful  historian  Dr.  Trumbull,  who  wrote  in 
ignorance  of  these  papers,  will  show  that  even  he  con- 
ceived the  agitation  of  the  question  of  Baptism  and  of 
claims  to  church  membership,  to  have  been  not  of  the  sub- 
stance of  the  trouble,  but  a  matter  of  "  meanwhile,"  and  for 
which  certain  parties  "  took  this  opportunity."  '"  Dr.  Trum- 
bull probably  touches  the  real  root  of  the  affair  when  he 
speaks  of  the  controversy  as  one  concerning  the  "  rights  of 


'■^  This  is  a  fact  impossible  to  account  for  if  the  question  of  the  rights  of  chil- 
dren of  baptized  parents,  or  of  a  title  to  church-membership  based  on  baptism 
only,  had  been  a  recognized  factor  in  the  controversy.  Somewhere  in  this  vo- 
luminous mass  of  papers  it  would  have  found  utterance  in  definite  shape.  Espe- 
cially in  the  long  and  careful  letter  of  Mr.  Davenport  [Cojiii.  Hist.  Col.,  ii,  pp  88-93), 
who  was  so  zealous  a  partisan  on  that  question,  and  who  afterward  was  so  exer- 
cised by  its  emergence  in  this  Hartford  Church  in  the  days  of  Whiting  and 
Haynes,  must  distinct  reference  have  been  found  to  this  element  of  the  difficulty 
had  it  been  an  acknowledged  element.  Nor  in  that  case  could  the  Elders  of  the 
Bay  have  said  of  the  cause  of  the  controversy,  as  they  did  say  in  their  letter  to 
Mr.  Goodwin  and  Capt.  Cullick  of  the  Withdrawing  party  {Ibid,Tp.  59-63)  "the 
source  of  whose  flames  perplexeth  vs  day  and  night."  Whereas  on  the  con- 
trary, in  all  the  seventy  pages  of  lately-discovered  documents  now  before  us,  not 
only  is  there  no  statement  of  any  such  question  as  involved  in  the  controversy, 
but  there  is  only  one  sentence  of  three  lines  which  can  even  be  interpreted  as 
making  an  allusion  to  the  existence  of  any  debate  on  such  questions  at  all.  It 
was,  in  truth,  the  largely  personal  element  in  the  controversy  which  was  the  per- 
plexing element.  The  issue  was  not,  in  this  earlier  struggle,  the  broad  one  of 
the  rights  of  baptized  persons  or  their  children ;  but,  at  least  chiefly,  the  rights 
of  the  minority  of  the  Hartford  Church  known  as  the  Withdrawers,  and  those 
of  the  majority  led  by  the  very  pronounced  officiality  of  Mr.  Stone,  and  involv- 
ing opposing  convictions  of  the  due  rights  and  prerogatives  of  each. 

'8  Trumbull,  i,  297,  298. 
20 


154  '^^^   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

the  brotherhood,"  '''  and  the  conviction  entertained  by  Mr. 
Goodwin  that  these  rights  had  been  disregarded. 

Regarding  this  as  the  only  view  of  the  matter  consistent 
with  the  documents  in  the  case,  the  story  of  the  quarrel  will 
now  be  attempted ;  reserving  the  narrative  of  the  controversy 
concerning  baptismal  rights,  which  to  some  extent  ran  par- 
allel with  this,  incidentally  mixed  itself  with  it,  continued 
after  it,  and  finally  resulted  in  the  separation  of  the  Second 
Church  of  Hartford  from  the  First,  to  that  independent 
treatment  which  really  belongs  to  it. 

All  accounts  agree  that  the  Hartford  Church  difficulty 
began  in  antagonism  between  Teaching-Elder  Stone  and 
Ruling-Elder  Goodwin.""  What  was  the  occasion  of  that 
antagonism  ? 

Whatever  elements  in  the  pronounced  characters  of  these 
two  men,  in  the  undefined  limitations  of  their  ecclesiastical 
functions,  and  in  the  special  relationship  of  intimacy  between 
Mr.  Goodwin  and  the  late  Pastor  of  the  Church,  may  have 
made  such  antagonism  one  easy  to  develop,  it  is  in  a  high 
degree  probable  that  a  more  definite  and  recognizable 
occasion  can  be  found,  from  a  careful  study  of  the  whole 
case. 

It  has  been  noticed  that  at  different  periods  in   1653  and 


'9  Ibid,  p.  297.  The  suggestion  of  Dr.  Bacon  [^Contributions,  etc.,  p.  15)  that 
there  was  involved  in  the  controversy  "  a  conflict  between  opposite  principles  of 
ecclesiastical  order,"  is  an  accurate  one.  Only  it  may  be  doubted  if  he  or  any 
one  has  given  allowance  enough  for  the  strength  of  the  personal  element  in- 
volved in  the  whole  conflict. 

*'  This  is  the  traditionary  account  as  given  in  all  the  histories ;  and  it  is 
sharply  confirmed  by  the  contemporaneous  letter  of  Rev.  John  Higginson  of 
Guilford  in  his  testimony  and  counsel  concerning  the  reception  of  the  With- 
drawers  by  the  Church  of  Wethersfield  {Hist.  Coll.,  ii,  p.  93)-  "  In  the  first  break- 
ing out  of  the  difference  betwixt  M'  Stone  and  M''  Goodwin  I  did  what  lay  in 
mee  to  disswade  them  from  a  Counsell  in  this  case,  and  rather  perswaded  to  a 
more  priuate  and  brotherly  way  of  healing,  before  the  church  there  was  engaged 
unto  parties." 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL  IN   STONE'S   DAY.  155 

1654  Michael  Wigglesworth  preached  at  Hartford,  and 
awaited  the  development  of  certain  "  motions  "  there.  It  is 
also  distinctly  in  evidence,  for  he  acknowledges  it  himself, 
that  Mr.  Stone  "hindered  y''  church  from  declaring  their 
apprehensions  by  vote  (upon  y^  day  in  question)  concerning 
Mr.  Wigglesworth's  fitnes  for  office  in  y''  church  of  Hart- 
ford.""  Mr.  Stone  admits  that,  in  a  general  way,  "it  is  a 
liberty  of  y''  church  to  declare  their  apprehensions  by  vote 
about  y''  fitness  of  a  p'son  for  office  upon  his  Try  all ;  "  but 
proceeds  to  say,  "  I  look  upon  it  as  a  received  Truth  y'  an 
officer  may  in  some  cases  lawfully  hinder  y"  church  fro  put- 
ting forth  at  this  or  y*  time  an  act  of  her  liberty."  '"' 

It  seems  that  this  high  conception  of  his  official  preroga- 
tive was  not  allowed  to  be  so  much  of  a  "  received  Truth  " 
as  the  Teacher  asserted.  Stormy  "meetings"  of  the  Church 
followed,  in  which  "  the  charge  of  infringement "  of  the  pre- 
rogatives of  others  in  this  act  of  the  Teacher,  was  urged  by 
Mr.  Goodwin,  but  in  which  the  majority  of  the  Church  stood 
by  the  Teacher  and  "acquitted"  him.  But  the  charge, 
though  rejected  by  the  Church  after  debate  in  two  meetings, 
was  again  preferred  in  a  formal  paper  by  Mr.  Cullick,  to 
which  the  Church  sent  a  reply."^ 

The  agitation,  however,  continued,  and,  at  some  meeting 
of  the  Church,  Mr.  Stone  was  so  far  wrought  upon  as  to 


21  Hist.  Coll.,  ii,  71. 

■2'2  Ibid. 

'^^  Ibid,  72.  The  answer  of  the  Church  is  lost.  See  also  p.  53  for  notes  of 
Mr.  Cullick's  interview  with  Mr.  Stone.  In  this  interview  Mr.  Cullick  is  re- 
ported to  have  said  :  "  If  he  [the  candidate  in  question]  had  declared  that  we 
had  not  taken  content  in  his  tryall  the  Church  might  have  had  no  other  con- 
sideration ;  but  he  not  declaring  any  such,  then  it  lieth  on  our  part  to  hold 
forth  something  to  him,  that  we  either  do  like  or  approve  of  him  or  do  not." 
To  which  Mr.  Stone  replied :  "  I  do  not  think  it  is  necessarie  for  him  to 
expresse  any  dislike.  M''  Michall  never  expressed  any  dislike  when  he  left  the 
congreg :  As  we  are  not  to  express  any  dislike  of  him,  that  must  be  knowne 
first,  whether  he  go  to  the  Bay  absolutelie  resolved  neu''  to  return." 


1^6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1653-1659. 

resign  his  office.  The  account  of  this  is  one  of  the  docu- 
ments of  the  minority,  and  may  perhaps  be  received  with 
allowance  for  some  partisan  coloring.  Mr.  Stone  is  reported 
to  have  said : 

"  That  he  would  lay  downe  his  place  and  office  power ; 
That  he  should  not  improve  that  power  or  act  as  an  officer 
any  more  amongst  them  ;  That  hee  would  not  have  the  ch  : 
thinke  they  were  nothing  but  great  words,  but  hee  would 
haue  them  Assure  themselves  hee  did  not  onely  say  it,  but 
hee  would  doe  it ;  tooke  his  leave  of  the  Congregations  thank- 
ing them  for  all  their  Loue  and  Respect  to  him,  telling  them 
that  if  any  Bro  :  thought  he  had  recieued  more  then  his 
Labors  deseured  he  would  restore  it  to  y'»  ....  but  that  if 
he  could  doe  any  th  :  for  the  ch  :  where  euer  hee  came,  in  pro- 
curing them  another  in  his  roome,  hee  would  doe  it ;  for 
another  might  doe  good  in  this  place  though  he  could  not ; 
that  hee  clearly  saw  that  his  worke  was  done  in  this  place, 
and  that  hee  had  the  Advice  of  the  Ablest  Elders  in  the  Bay 
for  what  hee  did."  " 

Obviously  the  Teacher  was  in  a  good  deal  of  heat,  and  very 
probably  strongly  provoked  thereto.  So  doubtless  was  Mr. 
Goodwin  ;  but  the  thing  which  must  most  strongly  have  gone 
against  his  grain,  was  his  practical  deposition  from  the  Ruling 
Eldership — and  consequently  from  the  official  headship  of  the 
Church,  now  that  Mr.  Stone  had  resigned — by  the  "choice  of 
a  moderator  "  by  the  Church,  in  accordance  with  the  advice 
of  Mr.  Stone,  "to  lead  the  ch :  in  his  roome  "  ^^ 

The  minority  hereupon  apparently  withdrew  from  com- 
munion with  the  Church.  But  being  remonstrated  with 
therefor,  by  letters  received  from  Mr.  Stone — again  acting,  it 
would  seem,  in  the  official  capacity  he  had  renounced — and 
others  of  the  brethren,  they  replied,  March  12,  1656,  refusing 

21  Ibid,  58-59. 

-5  Ibid,  pp.  59,  72. 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL  IN   STONE'S   DAY.  1 57 

to  recognize  Mr.  Stone  as  an  officer  of  the  Church,  and  call- 
ing for  "  an  Able  and  Indifferent  Councell  mutually  chosen  " 
to  consider  the  whole  case. ''' 

The  Church  thereupon  addressed  another  letter  to  the 
Withdrawers,  apparently  nominating  a  Council  of  Elders 
from  the  Bay,  and  proposing  certain  conditions  of  agree- 
ment." To  this  letter  the  Withdrawers  rejoined,  March  20, 
1656,  objecting  to  the  Council  nominated  by  the  Church  as 
not  being  "  a  Councell  agreed  vpon  by  the  consent  of  the 
whole  Church  ;  "  urging  that  the  Council  might  be  chosen  from 
"  within  the  compass  of  these  two  neighboring  Colonies,  viz.: 
New  Hauen  and  o''  owne,  and  that  out  of  them  each  party 
might  haue  the  choice  of  the  Elders  of  4  or  5  Churches  ;  "  and 
asking,  if  such  a  Council  could  not  be  had,  that  they  and 
their  wives  and  children  might  have  dismission  "  to  some 
approued  Church  or  Churches  of  Christe."  ^^ 

Apparently  the  Church  granted  this  very  reasonable 
request  for  a  mutual  Council,  at  least  so  far  that  one  com- 
posed of  several  Elders  of  this  Colony,  and  Mr.  Prudden  of 
New  Haven  Colony,  assembled  in  Hartford  on  June  11, 
1656." 

The  decision  of  this  Council,  as  it  was  afterwards  stated 
by  Mr.  Davenport  ^^  and  Mr.  Higginson,"^'  and  confirmed  by 


^'^  This  letter  is  signed  by  John  Webster,  at  this  time  Deputy  Governor,  John 
Cullick,  Nathaniel  Ward,  Andrew  Bacon,  Andrew  Warner,  John  White,  John 
Crow,  Thomas  Standley,  John  Barnard,  Gregory  Wolerton,  John  Arnold,  Zach- 
ary  Fild,  Richard  Church,  George  Steele,  Ozias  Goodwin,  Will.  Partrigg,  John 
Marsh,  Isaac  Graues,  Beniamen  Harbert,  Wm.  Leawis,  Thomas  Bunc.  It  will 
be  observed  William  Goodwin's  name  does  not  appear.  Possibly  he  was  not 
included  in  the  letter  sent  by  the  Church  to  the  withdrawing  party,     /h'd,  pp. 

54-55-  _ 
-"  This  letter  is  lost.     Its  propositions  can  only  be  inferred  from  the  reply. 
2«  /i>id,  pp.  56-58. 

-^  None  of  the  Bay  Elders  seem  to  have  been  on  this  Council. 
^  Ibid,  pp.  88-93. 
31  Ibid,  pp.  93-100. 


1^8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1653-1659. 

a  letter  of  the  Withdrawers ""  to  the  Church  under  date  of 
March  13,  1657,  was  a  substantial  vindication  of  the  position 
of  the  minority,  as  against  the  arbitrary  procedures  of  Mr. 
Stone  and  the  Church.  Its  definite  recommendations  were 
that  "  satisfaction  for  mutuall  offences "  be  given,  or  that 
"dismission  of  the  dissenting  brethren"  be  granted,  "in  case 
of  non-satisfaction." 

The  Withdrawing  party  always  afterward  contended  that 
they  had  tendered  the  "  satisfaction "  which  the  Council 
enjoined,  but  that  the  Church  had  failed  to  do  either  of  the 
things  demanded.  '  And  this  view  of  the  case  is  supported 
by  the  statements  of  Davenport  and  Higginson. 

But  for  some  reason,  not  now  altogether  explicable,  the 
Church  disregarded  the  findings  of  the  Council ;  and  Mr. 
Stone,  at  a  later  point  of  the  controversy — viz.,  March  25, 
1658  " — stigmatized  it,  in  a  paper  addressed  to  the  General 
Court,  as  "  canciled  and  of  no  force."  And  even  at  the 
present  moment  of  the  Council's  verdict,  he  apparently 
accompanied  or  immediately  followed  the  publication  of  the 
Result  with  his  own  published  "considerations"  upon  it, 
intended  to  break  its  power.''  The  Elders  of  the  Council, 
thus  impeached  in  their  judgments  by  the  Teacher's  publica- 
tion against  their  conclusions,  rejoined,'*  and  the  trouble 
only  spread  wider. 

In  August,  following  this  Council  of  June,  1656,  Mr.  Stone 
was  in  Boston,  and  had  interviews  with  the  elders  there. '" 

Five  of  the  most  distinguished  of  them,  John  Wilson  and 


32  Ibid,  pp.  68-70.  / 

38  Col.  Rec,  i,  p.  317.  '  / 

3*  Hist.  Coll.,  ii,  p.  90;  and  p.  72,  where  Mr.  Stone  says  :  /'In  publishing  my 
considerations  together  w***  y"*  determinations  of  y"  late  reVerend  Assembly  at 
that  time,  I  acted  unseasonably."     This  is  under  date  of  April  18,  1657. 

3"  Ibid,  p.  90. 

3''  Ibid,  p.  60. 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL   IN   STONE'S   DAY.  1 59 

John  Norton  of  the  Boston  church,  Richard  Mather  of  Dor- 
chester, Samuel  Whiting  of  Lynn,  and  John  Sherman  of 
Watertown,  were  moved  to  write  a  letter  to  Captain  John 
Cullick  and  Elder  Goodwin,  of  the  withdrawing  party, 
deploring  the  continuance  of  the  difficulties;  "Vnable  w*'' 
longer  silence  to  behold  y"'  wound  of  so  famous  a  sister  church 
and  mother  in  Israel,  still  bleeding,  if  not  vlcerating  ;"  declar- 
ing that  the  source  of  the  troubles  "  perplexeth  vs  day  and 
night,"  and  tendering  their  offices  of  aid  in  the  settlement  of 
the  contention,  either  by  having  the  representatives  of  the 
two  parties  in  the  Hartford  Church  "  come  together  unto  the 
Bay,"  or  by  themselves  going  to  Hartford,  if  that  were 
deemed  more  convenient.  The  letter  continues  with  fervent 
exhortations  to  avoid  the 

"  Scandall  of  an  incurable  breach  .  .  .  and  y''  reproach 
of  the  Congregationall  way.  The  greater  the  Name  of  your 
church  hath  bene,  the  greater  will  the  wounde  bee,  given  by 

your  breach  to  y^  name  of  Jesus It  is  more  bitter 

than  death -y'  miserable  wee  should  survive  the  worthyes  late 
deceased  and  leaving  the  churches  in  peace  w"'  vs,  to  see 
them  perish  by  home-bred  contention,  both  in  our  sight  and 

vnder  our  charge We  doubt  not  but  speech  will  then 

be  excused  when  to  be  speechlesse  were  inexcusable.  Our 
bowels  !  our  bowels  !  we  are  payned  at  the  very  hearts,  we 
caiiot  hold  our  penn." 

The  letter  concludes  by  saying  that  "  M''.  Stone  will  stay 
here  till  we  heare  from  you."  '' 

Apparently  the  proposition  to  go  to  the  Bay  was  not  accept- 
able to  the  gentlemen  to  whom  the  letter  was  addressed,  for 
in  September  following  another  letter  was  sent — this  time  by 
several  churches  in  Massachusetts — to  the  Hartford  Church 
entreating  the  latter  still  "to  continue  together,"  until  "a 


37  Ibid,  pp.  59-63. 


l6o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

second  meeting,  consisting  of  some  fr5  hence  w"'  some  also 
of  ycselves,  y""  late  reverend  Councell,  w*''  any  others  you 
shall  see  cause,"  might  be  had  as  a  further  expedient  of 
peace.  The  letter  furthermore  exhorts  the  Church,  on  the 
one  hand,  not  to  be  in  haste  "  to  purg  out  y''  old  leven  "  by 
way  of  discipline ;  and  the  Withdrawers,  on  the  other,  not  to 
be  in  haste  to  depart,  alleging  that  "  intempestive  secession 
w''  a  sinn."  It  points  out  the  scandal  it  would  be  to  have  it 
said  that  tHis  "was  y"  first  church  w'^h  proved  incurable  under 
all  meanes  applicable  in  y''  congregationall  way,"  and  declares 
that  "  the  ill  savo'  of  such  a  breach  cannot  be  suppressed 
w"'in  the  limmits  of  the  Colonies."  ^' 

Apparently  the  Church  accepted  this  suggestion  of  the 
sister  churches  of  the  Bay,  and  made  an  overture  to  the 
Withdrawers  to  join  with  the  Church  in  submitting  the  case 
to  their  counsel  and  that  of  the  elders  of  the  former  Council 
united  with  them. '' 

This  proposition  of  the  Church  was  seconded  by  the  ever- 
meddlesome  General  Court  which,  on  the  26th  of  February, 
1657,  expressed  its  desire  that  the  elders  of  the  Council  of 
June  previous,  should  be  ready  to  meet  with  the  elders  of  the 
Bay  in  their  proposed  visit  to  Hartford;  that  Hartford  Church 
should  invite  them  for  this  purpose,  unless,  indeed,  the  elders 
of  the  June  Council  could  themselves  compose  the  troubles  and 
make  the  errand  of  the  Massachusetts  elders  unnecessary  ;  and 
that  Mr.  Stone  and  the  Church  should  state  in  their  letters  to 
the  members  of  the  former  Council  "  in  writing  the  p'ticulars 
wherein  they  are  not  sattisfyed "  with  its  determinations. 
Mr.  Cullick,  Mr.  Steele,  and  Governor  Webster  opposed  this 


28  Ibid,  pp.  64-68.  Just  what  churches  united  in  this  overture  does  not 
appear. 

39  Here  again  the  Church's  overture  is  lost.  The  only  clue  to  the  terms  is  the 
Withdrawers'  reply. 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL  IN   STONE'S   DAY.  l5l 

action  of  the  Court  as  uncalled  for,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  a 
Council  had  already  given  its  opinions  in  the  matter,  and  had 
been  disregarded,'"  The  Withdrawers,  too,  answered  the 
Church's  proposition  negatively.  ■ '  They  urged  that  the 
Church  had  not  yielded  "  to  that  councell  that  is  already 
giuen,"  in  either  part  of  it,  whether  respecting  satisfaction  or 
dismission  ;  that  they  knew  of  no  "  rule  to  call  another 
councill;"  and  suggested  caustically  that  the  Church's  "in- 
terteynment "  of  the  advice  of  the  members  of  the  Council 
already  met  in  June  previous,  would  not  "  be  any  incoradge- 
ment  to  them  to  com  againe." 

Whatever  fault  of  temper  may  perhaps  have  characterized 
the  minority,  this  position  was  ecclesiastically  sound.  Nev- 
ertheless, by  some  means  or  other,  they  were  apparently 
induced  to  waive  their  objections  to  a  meeting  with  the  Bay 
elders  for  the  hearing  of  the  whole  case. 

Accordingly,  as  soon  as  departing  snows  would  allow  of 
journeying,  John  Norton,  teacher  of  the  Boston  church,  and 
representatives  of  six  other  churches '"  of  the  Bay,  set  out 
for  Hartford,  on  the  6th  of  April." 

Their  departure  on  their  pacifying  errand  was  made  the 
special  occasion  of  a  day  of  prayer  on  the  i6th,  by  the  Bos- 
ton church,  and  probably  by  the  other  Massachusetts  churches 
and  of  "  solemn  humiliation  in  their  behalf." 

Met.  in  Hartford,  with  the  two  parties  face  to  face,  the 
Church  and  the  Withdrawers,  progress  seemed  difficult."    Ap- 


*°  Col.  Records,\,  pp.  290-291. 

^^  In  a  letter  of  March  13,  1657,  signed  by  John  Webster,  John  Cullick,  Wil- 
liam Goodwin,  and  Andrew  Bacon.  Hist.  Coll..,  pp.  68-70.  It  will  be  observed 
that  two  of  the  signers  had  already  opposed  the  project  in  the  General  Court 
of  February  previous. 

^'-  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  79.     Barding's  Complaint. 

*^  Hull's  Diary,  Archceologica  Americana,  iii,  p.  180. 

**  Hull  writes  {Ibid,  p.  180)  under  date  of  April  23d  :  "  We  received  letters 
21 


l62  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1653-1659 

parently  all  the  papers  in  the  case,  together  with  the  conclu- 
sions of  the  Council  of  June  1656,  were  put  in  evidence. 
Mr.  Stone's  refusal  to  let  the  Church  take  a  vote  on 
Mr.  Wigglesworth's  candidacy ; "  his  resignation  of  his 
office;'"  the  choice  of  a  moderator  "to  lead  the  ch:  in  his 
roome ; "  "  reports  of  conversations,  *'  and  the  various  let- 
ters of  the  Church  and  the  minority'"'  were  undoubtedly 
passed  in  review. 

What  acknowledgments,  if  any,  the  Withdrawers  made 
does  not  appear  —  Time  seemingly  having  preserved  the 
positive  side  of  the  case  with  jealous  care  and  hidden  its 
reverse,  taking  an  opposite  course  with  that  of  the  Church — 
but  Mr.  Stone  put  in  an  acknowledgment,  which,  though  its 
main  points  have  been  incidentally  spoken  of  and  partly 
quoted  before,  is  so  illustrative  of  the  high  views  of  official 
prerogative  held  by  the  Teacher,  as  well  as  of  certain  quali- 
ties of  his  personal  character,  that  it  may  be  best  to  present 
it  here. 

"  I.  I  acknowledge  y*  it  a  liberty  of  y^  church  to  declare 
their  apprehensions  by  vote  about  y^  fitness  of  a  pi'son  for 
office  upon  his  Tryall. 

"  2.  I  look  at  it  as  a  recieved  Truth  yt  an  officer  may  in 
some  cases  lawfully  hinder  y*'  church  fro  putting  forth  at  this 
or  y^  time  an  act  of  her  liberty. 

"  3.  I  acknowledge  y'  I  hindered  y^  church  fr5  declaring 
their  apprehensions  by  vote  (upon  y  day  in  question^  con- 
cerning Mr.  Wigglesworth's  fitnes  for  office  in  y^  church  of 
Hartford. 


from  Hartford,  and  understood  that  the  work  of  reconciliation  went  very  slowly 
forward." 

'^^Hist.  Coll.,  p.  71. 

*6/3/^,  pp.  58-59. 

*^  Ibid,  p.  59. 

^^Ibid,  p.  53. 

^^Ibid,  pp.  54-58. 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL   IN   STONE'S   DAY.  163 

"  4.  I  am  not  conscious  to  myselfe  y^  I  intended  therein 
ye  least  just  grievance  to  any  brother,  yet  w"  I  diserned 
that  it  was  grievous  to  diverse  brethren,  and  I  had  expressed 
my  own  apprehensions  about  y^  rule  in  y^  case,  I  should 
have  been  willing  to  have  left  y^  church  (had  they  desired  it) 
to  their  liberty  in  voting. 

"  5.  As  concerning  y^  manner  of  y^  carriage  of  this  busi- 
nesse  I  suspect  myself,  that  I  might  faile  therein :  And 
whatever  error  or  failing  therein  God  shall  discover  to  me 
by  y^  helpe  of  any  of  y*^  Elders  of  y^  late  reverend  Assem- 
bly, or  of  ye  dissenting  brethren,  taking  in  y^  help  of  y 
messengers  fro  y*'  churches  of  y^  bay,  my  hearty  desire  is  not 
only  freely  to  acknowledge  it,  but  heartily  to  be  thankfull  to 
any  or  all  of  y">  by  whom  such  light  shall  be  p'sented. 

"6.  In  publishing  my  considerations  together  w^''  ye 
determinations  of  y''  late  reverend  Assembly  at  that  time,  I 

acted  unseasonably. 

Sam  :  Stone.'" 
This  i8th  of  2'". 
1657." 

But  by  some  good  means  an  apparent  reconciliation  was 
arrived  at.  An  "  instrument  of  pacification "  was  "  read, 
voted,  and  owned  solemnly  before  God,  angels  and  men ; "  " 
the  Withdrawers  agreed  "to  walke  with  [the  Church]  as 
formerly ; "  and  the  elders  of  Massachusetts  returned  on 
the  6th  of  May,  and  carried  word  that  the  Lord  had  "  gra- 
ciously wrought  the  Church  at  Hartford  to  a  reunion,  and  a 
mutual  promise  to  bury  all  former  differences  in  silence  for 
the  future."  "' 

But  the  peace  was  of  short  duration.  In  June,  Mr.  Stone 
went  to  Boston  to  attend  the  Synod  called  by  Massachusetts, 


^  Ibid,  pp.  71-72. 

^'  Ibid,  p.  117. 

5'^  Hull's  Diary,  Arch.  Amer.,  iii,  180.  An  agreement  which  would  manifestly 
have  been  impossible  had  the  vital  problem  of  the  rights  appertaining  to  Bap- 
tism been  the  question  at  issue. 


164  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1653-1659. 

to  which  there  will  be  occasion  hereafter  more  particularly 
to  refer.  Apparently  he  continued  there  from  June  into 
August ;  for  on  the  second  of  that  month,  a  letter,  sent  by 
him  from  the  Bay,  with  certain  propositions  annexed,  was 
presented  to  the  Church."  The  letter  speaks  of  the  writer's 
love  for  the  Church,  but  also  of  his  being  "  now  aged "'  and 
weake,"  and  troubled  with  "  diuers  infirmities  "  of  body  ;  of 
there  being  "no  Phisician  at  Hartford  or  neare  at  hande  ; " 
of  his  being  "vtterly  vnable  to  act  those  great  and  difficult 
matters  of  Church  governm''  w^^'  must  be  attended  to  ;"  and 
therefore  suggests  whether  it  is  not  best  for  him  to  "  haue 
liberty  to  remove  to  some  other  place  where  [his]  worke 
may  be  more  easy  and  tolerable  and  where  [he]  may  live  to 
doe  some  service  for  Christ."  The  propositions  with  which 
this  letter  was  accompanied  demanded,  first,  that  the  Church 
at  Hartford  should  "  submitt  toe  every  doctrine"  propounded 
to  them  by  their  Teacher,  "grounded  vppon  the  sacred 
Scriptures  ;"  second,  that  the  Church  should  "bynde  them- 
selues  not  toe  offer  toe  induce  or  bring  in  any  officer  to  ioyn 
with  Samuel  Stone  against  his  will  and  right  reason,  and 
without  his  consent  and  approbation;"  third,  that  the  Church 
give  Mr.  Stone  liberty  to  secure  an  assistant  whom  the 
Church  should  approve,  "if  Samuell  Stone  can. give  in  suffi- 
cient testimony  and  evydence  of  ...  .  his  fitnes  for  that 
employment ; "  and,  fourth,  that  the  Church  "  procure  some 
able  phisitian  to  dwell  and  setle  heere  in  Hartford  before  the 
next  October." 

This  letter  and  propositions  annexed,  seem  to  have  been 


5-^  Hist.  Coll.,  pp.  73-77. 

^*  He  was  now  fifty-five  years  old.  Dr.  Rosseter  of  Guilford,  the  nearest  edu 
cated  physician,  had  been  consulted  heretofore  by  Mr.  Stone;  the  town  having 
voted,  Jan.  7,  1656,  ;^io  "towards  Mr.  Stone's  charge  of  Phissick  which  he  hath 
taken  of  Mr.  Rosseter." 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL  IN   STONE'S   DAY.  165 

a  firebrand  in  the  rubbish  of  the  old  quarrel.  The  minority 
denounced  it  as  a  "breach  of  the  pacification  ;"  '"  angry  words 
of  crimination  and  recrimination  followed  between  Mr.  Stone 
and  some  of  the  Withdrawers  ;  '"  and  the  controversy  pro- 
voked Mr.  Stone  to  refuse  to  administer  the  Sacrament," 
and  also  to  proceed  to  some  acts  of  discipline.  "^^^ 

Whereupon  the  withdrawing  party  issued  a  letter  to  the 
churches  of  the  Colony,  enclosing  a  statement '"  of  the 
grounds  of  their  withdrawal,  and  asking  a  "favorable  con- 
struction "  of  their  course.  This  letter  was  sent  to  and 
publicly  read  in  the  several  churches. 

This  procedure  was  resented  by  the  majority,  "  as  tending 
to  the  defamation  of  M^"  Stone  and  the  Ch :  at  Hartford,  and 
to  the  breach  of  the  peace  of  the  Ch^  and  comon wealth ; " 
and  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  was  presented  by  seven 
members  of  the  Church,  denying  the  truthfulness  of  the 
statements  in  the  Withdrawers'  letter,  and  asking  for  "  relief e, 
helpe,  and  direction."  The  petition  presents,  also,  distinct 
charges  of  violation  of  covenant,  "  not  only  made  but  lately 
renewed  in  a  solemne  manner,"  by  the  Withdrawers. °° 

Meantime,  Mr.  Stone  replied  to  the  circular  letter  of  the 

55  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  77.  ^  Ibid,  p.  105.  ^7  if,id^  p.  114. 

^^  /bid,  p.  115.  See  also  Hull's  Diary,  p.  183.  "The  breach  at  Hartford 
again  renewed ;  God  leaving  Mr.  Stone,  their  officer,  to  some  indiscretion,  as  to 
neglect  the  Church's  desire  in  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  to  pro- 
ceed to  some  acts  of  discipline  toward  the  formerly  dissenting  brethren." 

^^  The  statement  is  lost.  The  letter  is  dated  Nov.  11,  1657,  and  signed  by 
John  Webster,  John  Cullick,  and  William  Goodwin.     Ibid,  pp.  77-78. 

''°  Ibid,  pp.  79-80.  The  paper  is  dated  Dec.  4,  1657.  The  General  Court 
postponed  action ;  but  Rev.  Mr.  Russell  of  Wethersfield,  was  summoned  before 
the  Quarter  Court  at  Hartford  to  answer  to  reading  the  Withdrawers'  letter  in 
his  church,  (p.  78,  note^  An  additional  token  may  here  be  noted  of  the  absence 
of  any  recognizable  connection  between  this  quarrel  and  the  Half-way  Covenant 
controversy,  in  the  fact  that  Mr.  Russell,  here  censured,  and  to  whose  church 
the  Withdrawers  resorted,  was  himself,  this  same  year,  one  of  the  Synod  which 
endorsed  the  Half-way  Covenant  principle,  as  one  of  the  four  Connecticut  dele- 
gates.    Col.  Rec,  \,  28S. 


l66  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

Withdrawers,  in  a  letter "'  which  has  suffered  the  usual  fate 
of  the  documents  on  the  Church  side  of  the  quarrel  ;  and 
the  Withdrawers  issued  another/'  disclosing  the  fact  that 
they  had  already  propounded  themselves  for  admission  to 
the  church  at  Wethersfield  as  members  there.  They  were 
greatly  strengthened  and  encouraged  in  this  course  by  two 
elaborate  papers  " — drawn  up,  apparently,  on  enquiries  made 
by  the  Wethersfield  church  respecting  the  propriety  of  admit- 
ting the  Withdrawers  to  their  fellowship — by  Rev.  John 
Higginson  of  Guilford,  and  Rev.  John  Davenport  of  New 
Haven. 

Both  these  communications  support  the  position  of  the 
Withdrawers  in  all  the  main  points  of  the  controversy  up  to 
the  act  of  withdrawing ;  respecting  which  particular  act, 
however,  Mr.  Higginson  has  "had  some  scruple,"  yet  sees 
"not  why  they  should  bee  so  farre  blamed  ....  as  to  bee 
disowned  or  deserted  in  their  cause."  "'  Mr.  Davenport  sug- 
gests an  appeal  to  the  old  Council  of  June  1656,  for  appro- 
bation of  the  Withdrawers'  reception  to  the  Wethersfield 
church,  "  W^''  being  done  in  a  way  of  approving  yo'"  admit- 
tance of  them,"  he  sees  no  reason  for  withholding  fellowship 
from  the  Wethersfield  church  for  so  receiving  them,  or  from 
them  for  thus  separating  from  the  Hartford  Church."^ 

At  this  juncture,  however,  the  General  Court  once  more 
put  in  a  hand.  It  "ordered"  on  the  nth  of  March,  1658,"' 
in  view  of  the  difficulties 

"  Betwixt  the  Ch :  of  Christ  at   Hartford  and  the  with- 


61  Ibid,  p.  86. 

«2  Ibid,  pp.  86-7.  Feb.  12,  1658. 

^"  Ibid,  pp.  88-100. 

6-»  Ibid,  p.  98. 

65  Ibid,  p.  92. 

66  Col.  Records,  i,  312. 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL   IN   STONE'S   DAY.  157 

drawers,  ....  that  there  bee  from  henceforth  an  vtter  cessa- 
tion of  all  further  p''secution,  either  on  the  Ch^ :  part  at 
Hartford  toward  the  withdrawers  from  them ;  and  on  the 
other  part  that  those  that  haue  withdrawen  from  the  Ch :  at 
Hartford  shall  make  a  cessation  in  p''secuting  their  former 
pfpositions  to  the  Ch:  at  Wethersfeild  or  any  other  Ch :  in 
reference  to  their  joyning  therein  Ch:  relation,  vntill  the 
matters  in  controuersy  betwixt  the  Ch :  of  Hartford  &  the 
brethren  that  haue  withdrawen  bee  brought  to  an  issue  in 
that  way  that  the  Court  shall  determine." 

The  Court  also,  at  the  same  time,  ordered  an  adjournment 
for  a  fortnight,  to  meet  with  the  elders  of  the  vicinity  to  consult 
"  vpon  some  speedy  course  for  the  issuing  the  pi'sent  troubles." 

Probably  as  a  result  of  this  conference,  the  Court,  on 
March  24th,  the  day  of  the  adjournment  spoken  of  above, 
further  ordered"  that  the  Church  of  Hartford  and  Mr.  Stone 
should  have  an  interview  with  the  Withdrawers,  attended  by 
the  governor,  John  Winthrop,  and  the  deputy-governor, 
Thomas  Welles,  to  see  if  they  could  not  arrive  at  "some 
mutuall  conclusions  that  may  put  an  end  vnto  their  vnhappy 
discention;"  and  in  case  they  "cannot  agree  .  .  .  that 
then  there  bee  letfs  sent  to  the  Bay  Eld'=*  &  to  any  among 
vs  or  in  the  other  lurisdiction,  for  advice  what  the  Court 
should  doe  in  the  pi'mises." 

On  May  20th,  following,  the  Court  met  again,  and  a  peti- 
tion was  presented  by  Mr.  Stone  that  certain  "  Quaestions 
here  pi'sented  may  be  sillogistically  reasoned  before  this 
hono'"d  Court,"  by  himself  and  some  representative  of  the 
Withdrawers,  "face  to  face."  The  points  he  wished  argued 
were  that  the  Council  of  June  1656,  "is  vtterly  cancild  and 
of  no  force;"  that  there  had  been  "no  violation  of  the  last 

6T  Col.  Rec,  i,  314. 


l68  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1653-1659. 

agreemS"  made  in  the  presence  of  the  elders  of  the  Bay  in 
April,  1657,  on  the  part  of  the  Church  of  Hartford,  or  its 
Teacher;  that  "the  withdrawen  Brethren"  had  violated  it; 
that  they  were  still  "members  of  the  Ch :  of  Christ  at  Hart- 
ford;" that  their  withdrawing  "is  a  sin  exceeding  scandalous 
&  dreadful ; "  and  that  the  question  at  issue  was  a  question 
"between  the  Ch  :  .  .  and  the  withdrawen  p''sons,"  and  "not 
in  the  hands  of  the  Churches"  generally."* 

But,  by  this  time,  the  Withdrawers  seem  to  have  given  up 
the  struggle.  On  the  same  day  on  which  the  above  petition 
of  Mr. ,  Stone  was  ordered  on  record  by  the  Court,  Capt. 
Cullick  and  William  Goodwin,  being  in  Boston  for  the  pur- 
pose, petitioned  the  General  Court  there,  in  their  own  and 
other's  behalf,  for  leave  to  settle  up  the  River,  out  of  the 
jurisdiction  of  Connecticut,  and  within  the  "pious  and  godly 
government"  of  Massachusetts."''  That  Court,  on  the  25th  of 
the  month,  gave  them  leave,  but  coupled  the  permission  with 
the  condition  that  "they  submit  themselves  to  a  due  and 
orderly  hearing  of  the  differences  between  themselues  and 
their  brethren." 

Such  "due  and  orderly  hearing"  the  General  Court  of 
Connecticut  undertook  to  provide  for;  for,  on  August  i8th, 
1658,  it  ordered  that  both  parties  to  the  controversy  should 
formulate  their  grievances  and  debate  them  among  them- 
selves ;  or  should  debate  them  publicly  before  six  elders,  three 
chosen  by  each  party,  as  final  referees ;  in  which  alternative,  if 
either  party  declined  to  choose,  the  Court  would  choose  for  it. 
The  Church  party  refused  to  choose.  So  the  Court  chose  for 
it,  and  the  elders  designated  were  requested  to  meet  in 
Hartford  on  the  17th  of  September.'" 


'^^  Ibid,  p.  317. 

^^Hist.  Hadley  (Judd),  pp.  18-19. 

'"  Col.  Rec,  pp.  320-321. 


1653-1659]  QUARREL   IN    STONE'S   DAY.  i5q 

The  Court,  in  furtherance  of  the  scheme,  wrote  by  the 
hand  of  Daniel  Clark  its  secretary,  to  the  churches  of 
Boston,  Cambridge,  and  Roxbury,  requesting  the  presence 
of  "M"-  Norton,  M-"  Michil,  M-"  Cobbit,  and  M>-  Damforth.'"' 

Dr.  Trumbull  rests  the  responsibility  for  the  failure  of  this 
device,  on  the  Hartford  Church,  where,  possibly,  it  belongs, 
as  the  Church  had,  apparently,  not  approved  of  it  from  the 
outset.'"  Nevertheless  this  is  not  certain,  for  the  Teacher 
seems  to  have  prepared  for  the  discussion  ;  there  remaining 
on  record,  under  date  of  Sept.  7th,  ten  days  before  the 
assembly  was  to  gather,  a  list  of  eleven  specifications  against 
the  Withdrawers ;  mainly,  amplifications  of  the  points  of  his 
petition,  put  on  record  in  May  previous,  but  with  some  others 
added." 

So  the  autumn  and  winter  drifted  by ;  the  difficulty  yet 
uncomposed,  and  the  people  who  were  planning  to  go  up  to 
Hadley,  not  yet  having  secured  the  "due  and  orderly"  settle- 
ment of  their  difficulties,  on  which  their  permission  to  come 
within  the  "godly"  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  depended. 

Something  must  be  done.  So  the  General  Court  inter- 
fered again.  On  the  9th  of  March,  1659,  i^  passed  this 
extraordinary  resolve : " 

"This  Court  taking  into  consideration  the  continued 
troubles  and  distance  twixt  the  Ch :  at  Hartford  and  the 
w'hdrawen  party,  after  further  indeauours  for  a  concurrenc 
and  vnanimity  to  cal  in  some  help  from  abroad,  and  findeing 
their  labours  herin  invalid,  haue  now  ordered  and  appoynted 
a  council  to  be  called  by  y^  Court  (leaueing  each  party  to  ye 
liberty  whether  they  wil  send  or  noe,)  to  be  helpful  in  issue- 
ing  the  Questions  in  controuersy. 


"  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  loi.     Aug.  26,  '58. 
"^  Hist.  Conn.,  i,  306. 
"^^  Hist.  Coll.,  pp.  104-105. 
"*  Col.  Records,  i,  333-334- 
22 


lyo  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

"  Its  ordered  that  those  Chs :  (whose  Elders  were  re- 
quested to  come  hither)'^  should  be  desired  by  L''^  from  y^ 
Secretary,  in  the  name  of  the  Court,  to  send  vs  one  from 
each  Ch :  of  their  ablest  instruments,  to  be  p''sent  at  Hart- 
ford, by  the  third  of  June  next,  to  assist  in  heareing  and 
issueing  these  differences. 

"  Its  alsoe  ordered  and  expected  by  the  Court,  that  the 
Quaest^  in  controversy  shalbe  publiquely  disputed  in  the 
p''sence  of  the  Council  according  to  the  former  order."'  And 
yt  each  party,  both  y^  Church  at  Hartford  and  y^  withdraw- 
ers,  shal  ioyntly  concur  in  bearing  the  charges  of  the  former 
Council,  and  in  pi'pareing  and  provideing  for  this  yt  is  now 
to  be  called." 

This  scheme  of  a  Council  appointed  by  the  Court,  "  leaue- 
ing  each  party  to  ye  liberty  whether  they  wil  send  or  noe," 
but  charging  its  expenses  on  the  parties  who  had  no  voice  in 
its  call,  failed,  as  it  deserved  to  do.  Letters  were,  indeed, 
sent  by  the  Court,  over  the  hand  of  Daniel  Clarke,  its  secre- 
tary, asking  for  a  meeting  at  Hartford,  on  the  3d  of  June; 
letters,  however,  which  plainly  showed  that  the  parties  con- 
cerned were  not  agreed  in  the  invitation.  "  Both  parties  are 
desirous  to  have  y^  case  come  to  trial,  but  refuse  to  act 
ioyntly  in  and  about  y^  way  of  calling  for  help."  " 

The  churches  of  Boston  and  Roxbury,  at  least,  declined  to 
come  at  such  a  governmental  summons,  which  "neyther  the 
Church  (or  major  part)  nor  yet  the  part  y*^  is  w^^drawne 
(much  less  both  of  them)"  had  had  any  consent  in  inviting ; 
concluding  that  an  assent,  under  such  circumstances,  would 
be  "little  lesse  then  taking  up  an  holy  and  sacred  ordinance 
of  God  in  vaine."  "     Very  possibly,  other  churches  took  a 


''^  And  who  came  in  April,  1657. 

'i'^The  abortive  scheme  of  Aug.  18,  1658. 

'^'^  Hist.  Coll.,  pp.  105-107. 

"^^  Ibid,  pp.  108-109.  The  letter  4s  signed  by  John  Wilson  and  John  Eliot, 
pastors  of  the  Boston  and  Roxbury  churches  respectively,  and  their  associates, 
representative  of  the  churches,  and  bears  date  May  19,  1659. 


1653-1659]  QUARREL  IN   STONE'S   DAY.  171 

similar  view  of  the  case.     At  all  events,  the  June  Council 
of  1659,  never  assembled." 

Convinced  apparently,  at  last,  of  the  need  of  some  show 
of  cooperation  by  the  parties  to  the  case,  in  anything  fit  to 


'9  Dr.  Trumbull's  very  explicit  statement  of  the  fact  and  results  of  a  council 
on  June  3d,  has  been  followed  by  Felt,  and  by  others  even  since  the  discovery 
of  the  Mss.  published  in  the  second  volume  of  the  Connecticut  Historical 
Society.  Dr.  Trumbull's  mistake  was  probably  owing  to  a  misinterpretation 
of  the  language  used  in  the  resolution  of  the  Court  of  June  15th,  1659,  as  an 
order  calling  back  the  Council  invited  March  9th,  and  which  was  to  have  met, 
had  it  met  at  all,  on  June  3d  ;  instead  of  being  a  call  of  a  Council  by  agreement 
of  the  Church  and  the  Withdrawers,  composed  of  the  churches  whose  elders 
met  in  Hartford  in  April,  1657,  and  two  other  churches  nominated  by  the 
Withdrawers.  But  that  he  was  mistaken  in  a  statement  which,  in  its  subsequent 
acceptance,  rests  on  no  other  authority  than  his  "'declaration,  seems  evident: 
I.  From  the  inherent  improbability  of  a  re-summons,  in  June,  by  a  new  act  of 
the  Court,  of  a  council  ex  hypothesi  held  so  recently  as  June  3d,  previous,  for 
consideration  of  the  same  matters ;  2.  Because  the  resolution  of  the  Court,  of 
June  15th,  speaking  of  the  elders  and  messengers  "that  were  of  the  former 
Council  at  Hartford,"  includes  Boston  and  Roxbury— language  appropriate  if 
the  council  of  April  1657  is  referred  to,  but  wholly  inappropriate  if  a  Council 
on  June  3d  is  supposed  referred  to,  as  those  churches  distinctly  declined  to 
attend;  3.  Because  the  number  of  the  churches  invited  on  the  15th  of  June, 
1659,  is  identical  with  that  of  the  churches  represented  in  the  Council  of 
April,  1657  (see  Barding's  memorial  to  the  General  Court,  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  79), 
with  the  addition,  distinctly  specified,  of  two  more  on  "  the  nomination  of  the 
Withdrawers  ;  "  4.  Because  the  "  Sentence  of  the  Councell  held  at  Boston  Sept. 
26,  1659,"  which  gives  final  summation  of  the  whole  case,  makes  no  reference 
in  its  careful  enumeration  of  the  means  hitherto  used  in  the  case,  to  any  Council 
in  June  previous,  but  speaks  only  of  the  "  great  labour  of  the  Reverend  Coun- 
cill  held  in  Hartford  in  '56;  the  poore  service  of  ye  church  Messengers  from 
hence  in  '57,  the  severall  occasionall  Letters,"  etc.,  an  unaccountable  omission 
had  any  Council  been  held  in  June,  1659;  5.  Because  Hubbard,  who  was 
of  the  Council  of  September  26,  1659,  and  ex  hypothesi  of  the  June  Council, 
makes  no  allusion  to  any  such  Council  when  treating  of  this  subject  (see  his 
History,  p.  570);  6.  Because  the  reference  in  the  resolution  of  the  General 
Court,  of  June  15,  1659,  to  "the  experim'  y^  hath  been  made"  of  the  labors  of  a 
former  assembly,  "  and  the  good  issue  y*  was  effected  thereby,"  is  fully  satisfied 
by  the  pacification  "  subscribed,  read,  voted  and  owned  solemnly,  before  God, 
Angels  and  Men"  (see  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  117)  in  April,  1657;  7.  Because  the 
theory  of  a  Council  in  June  rests  solely  on  the  statement  of  Dr.  Trumbull ;  in- 
troduces confusion  rather  than  order  into  the  narrative  ;  is  opposed  to  some 
main  facts  of  it,  e.g.  the  refusals  of  the  Boston  and  Roxbury  churches,  and  in- 
volves the  other  churches  in  the  condition  of  having  yielded  to  a  call  the  irreg- 
ularity of  which  Boston  and  Roxbury  distinctly  pointed  out. 


172  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

be  called  a  Congregational  Council,  the  General  Court  made 
one  more  endeavor — and  in  this  particular  Church  trouble,  its 
last — to  provide  for  a  settlement. 

On  June  15,  1659,  ^^^  Court  took  this  action  :"' 
"  This  Court  iudgeth  it  necessary  that  several  of  y"  Ch'  of 
X*  in  the  Massatuset  should  be  sent  vnto,  and  desired  to 
afford  the  help  of  their  Reu'end  Elders  and  worthy  messen- 
gers that  were  of  the  former  Council  at  Hartford,  vnto  whom 
are  added,  by  the  nomination  of  the  withdrawers,  the  teach- 
ins:  Elders  of  Dorchester  and  Water  Towne.  The  Ch'  to  be 
sent  to,  whose  help  is  requested,  are  Boston,  Camb:,  Roxb:, 
Dorchester,  Ipsw:,  Dedham,  Water  T:,  Charles  Towne,  Sud- 
bury ;  seauen  whereof  the  withdrawers  consented  to  ;  the 
Court  and  Ch :  assenting  to  and  desiringe  all  or  so  many  as 
the  Lord  shall  incline  or  enable  to  attend  the  worke  ;  vnto 
whose  decisue  power,  the  withdrawen  partie  is  required,  the 
Ch:  at  Hartford  freely  engaging  to  submit  according  to  the 

order  of  ye  Gosple The  Council  fore-mentioned  is 

requested  to  be  at  Hartford  the  19th  of  August,  the  time  of 
their  hearing  the  matters  in  differenc  publiquely  debated, 
according  to  former  ord'',  to  be  with  al  convenient  speed  after 
their  comeing  vp." 

For  some  reason  the  Council  did  not  meet  at  Hartford  on 
the  19th  of  August,  but  at  Boston  on  the  26th  of  Septem- 
ber. It  was  composed  of  nine  churches  and  seventeen  mem- 
bers.*"    Both  parties  appeared  before  the  Council  "  in  their 


■'^  Col.  Hec,  ^.  2>Z9- 

so  Boston  :  Rev.  John  Wilson,  Rev.  John  Norton,  and  Edward  Tyng. 

Cambridge  :  Rev.  Chas.  Chauncey,  President  of  the  College,  and  Rev.  Jona- 
than Mitchell. 

Roxbury :  Rev.  John  Eliot,  Rev.  Saml.  Danforth,  and  Isaac  Heath. 

Dorchester  :  Rev.  Richard  Mather. 

Dedham  :  Rev.  John  Allin. 

Charlestown :  Rev.  Zech.  Symmes,  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  and  Richard 
Russell. 

Sudbury :  Rev.  Edward  Browne. 

Ipswich  :  Rev.  Thomas  Cobbett,  Rev.  William  Hubbard. 

Watertown  :  Rev.  John  Sherman. 


1653-1659-1  QUARREL   IN   STONE'S   DAY.  1 73 

representatives,"  and  the  "grievances  of  both  sides"  were 
"fully  heard."  *'  It  continued  at  least  ten  days  in  session, 
and  probably  somewhat  longer,  its  "  Sentence  "  being  dated 
October  7th. 

The  document  which  expresses  the  verdict  of  the  Council 
on  the  melancholy  business,  was  apparently  drawn  up  by 
the  "  matchless "  Jonathan  Mitchell  of  Cambridge.*'^  Too 
long  by  far  to  quote,  its  conclusions  may  be  summarized. 
The  Council  mildly  censured  Mr.  Stone's  action  in  the  "  non- 
administration  of  ye  Lord's  Supper"  as  "irregular,  because 
he  was  therein  defective  unto  the  execution  of  his  office  & 
fulfilling  of  His  Ministry."  It  judged  "that  His  Desire  of  a 
Dismission  so  speedily  after  the  pacification,  before  the 
joynts  of  that  dis-united  Body  so  lately  set  were  considera- 
bly settled,  was  unseasonable."  It  pronounced  "  his  propo- 
sals of  Engagements  unto  the  Church  at  such  a  Time  .... 
both  unseasonable  and  inexpedient."  It  found  too  much 
evidence  of  Mr.  Stone's  "  Rigid  Handling  of  divers  Breth- 
ren," particularly  specifying  the  "  Honoured  M'  Webster," 
and  "  Brother  Bacon."  It  absolved  Mr.  Stone  from  the 
charge  of  "  nullifying  the  instrument  of  pacification,"  but 
did  find  him  chargeable  with  "some  Commissions  which  in 
their  owne  nature  tended  to  the  unsettlement  of  y''  pacifica- 
tion." It  summed  up  its  judgment  concerning  the  Church 
thus:  "So  far  as  the  premises  impute  blame  to  M""  Stone, 
the  brethren  of  the  church  that  have  adhered  to  him,  acted 
with  him,  and  defended  him  therein,  cannot  be  excused  from 
being  blameworthy  also." 

Turning  to  "the  Grievances  presented  by  M''  Stone  &  the 
Brethren  of  the  Church,"  the  Council  find  the  Withdraw- 


.  -^i  Hairs  Diary,  p.  188. 
^'^  See  Hist.  Coll.,  pp.  112-125,  fo""  ^^^^  ^^"^^  of  the  paper. 


174  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1653-1659. 

ers  chargeable  with  "breaking  the  pacification,"  and  with 
"  rending  from  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Hartford  in  a  schis- 
maticall  way  :  and  their  sin  therein  is  Acceding  scandalous." 
But  it  palliates  their  fault  "  because  they  were  led  thereunto 
by  a  mistake  concerning  the  Act  of  the  Reverend  Councell 
held  at  Hartford,  June  '56,  to  have  been  in  force  enabling 
them  thereunto."  It  declares  the  Withdrawers  "  are  still 
members  of  the  Church  at  Hartford  ;  "  to  be  culpable  in  pub- 
lishing papers  of  an  "Offensive  or  Accusatory"  character 
against  "  the  Church  and  their  Teacher ; "  and  as  being 
"  irregular  "^such  of  them  as  had  done  so — in  "joyning  to 
another  Church,"  which  "  irregular  "  act  is  a  "  nullity." 

The  Council  expresses  the  hope  that  mutual  "  satisfaction  " 
be  given,  and  that  there  "  be  a  return  of  the  Dissenters  into 
Communion  with  the  Church  of  Hartford  as  formerly." 
But  if  any  still  desired  to  remove,  the  Council's  "  Advice 
and  Determination  is  that  the  Church  forthwith  ....  give 
them  their  Dismission,  &  that  such  as  have  joyned  themselves 
to  another  church  doe  solemnly  renew  their  covenant." 
The  Council  ends  with  a  pathetic  exhortation  to  love  and 
unity,  and  not  to  "  turne  againe  to  folly." 

It  appears  that  the  representatives  of  both  parties  present 
at  Boston  submitted  with  good  grace  to  the  judgment ;  a 
disposition  "  which  was  publicly  manifested  before  they 
departed  home."  "  Most  of  those  known  as  Withdrawers, 
led  by  Wm.  Goodwin  and  John  Webster,  speedily  removed  to 
Hadley,  and  the  great  quarrel  in  the  Hartford  Church  was 
over. 

The  quarrel  began,  probably,  so  far  as  anything  visible  was 
a  beginning,  in  a  question  of  personal  preference  for  a  pulpit 
candidate  ;  it  found  expression  in  a  dispute  touching  the  offi- 


^^  HulVs  Diary y  ut  supra,  p.  li 


1653-1659-]  QUARREL   IN   STONE'S   DAY.  jye 

cial  prerogative  of  the  two  chief  ofBcers  of  the  Church  ;  it 
broadened  out  as  it  went  into  a  controversy  concerning  the 
claims  of  the  brotherhood  and  the  rights  of  a  minority,  and 
of  the  proper  methods  of  ecclesiastical  redress  when  those 
rights  were  infringed  ;  it  brought  up  many  interesting  ques- 
tions of  Congregational  order,  but  the  personal  element  was 
all  along  the  baffling  and  potential  quantity, 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  a  very  able  and  reverend  man.  But  we 
remember  that  before  the  Church  left  Massachusetts  he  had 
been  reproved  in  open  Court  for  his  "  unreverend  speech." 
•  Mr.  Stone,  too,  was  an  exceedingly  reverend  and  able  man. 
But  he  obviously  took  very  high  views  of  the  prerogatives  of 
his  office.  His  conception  of  ministerial  authority  belonged 
more  to  the  period  in  which  he  had  been  educated  in  Eng- 
land, than  to  the  new  era  into  which  he  had  come  in  New 
England.  His  own  graphic  expression,  "  A  speaking  aristoc- 
racy in  the  face  of  a  silent  democracy,"  is  the  felicitous 
phrase  which  sets  forth  at  once  the  view  he  took  of  church 
'government,  and  the  source  of  all  his  woes.  On  the  whole, 
respecting  the  controversy  itself  which  turmoiled  the  Church 
so  long,  the  impartial  verdict  of  history  must  be,  that  spite 
of  many  irregularities  and  doubtless  a  good  deal  of  ill- temper 
on  both  sides,  the  general  weight  of  right  and  justice  was 
with  the  defeated  and  emigrating  minority. 

Mr.  Stone  survived  this  passage  in  his  experience  about 
four  years.  They  were  years  of  seeming  harmony  in  the 
Church  and  comfort  to  himself.  Within  about  a  twelvemonth 
after  the  adjustment  of  the  long  Church  quarrel,  an  associate 
Pastor  was  settled  in  connection  with  Mr.  Stone — the  Rev. 
John  Whiting,  of  whom  there  will  be  occasion  hereafter 
more  fully  to  speak.  Apparently  the  main  part  of  the  min- 
isterial work  was  devolved,  in  Mr.  Stone's  increasing  age  and 


176  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1659-1663. 

feebleness,  upon  his  younger  colleague  ;  for  on  January  26, 
1663,  the  town,  by  its  vote,  granted  "Mr,  Stone  sixty  pounds 
and  Mr.  Whiting  eighty  pounds  for  the  year  past  and  rest  to 
come."  Mr.  Stone  did  not  survive  this  year,  but  died  on  the 
20th  of  July,  1663,  at  the  same  age  as  his  predecessor,  61 
years. 

One  matter,  however,  belonging  to  this  epoch  of  Stone's 
and  Whiting's  joint  ministry,  needs  here  to  be  spoken  of 
before  the  first  Teacher  of  this  Church  passes  finally  out  of 
sight.  It  is  the  most  distinct  instance  of  the  contact  with 
the  Hartford  Church"  of  that  great  horror  of  the  period  to 
which  it  belongs  alike  in  Old  England  and  in  New — the 
delusion  of  Witchcraft. 

The  story,  which  belongs  to  the  winter  of  1662-3,  will  be 
told,  chiefly,  in  the  language  of  Rev.  John  Whiting,  one  of 
the  actors  in  the  affair,  as  written  by  him,  twenty  years  after 
the  events  narrated,  in  a  letter  to  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  of 
Boston :"' 

"The  subject  was  Anne  Cole  (the  daughter  of  John  Cole 
a  godly  man  among  us,  then  next  neighbor  to  the  man  and 
woman'"  that  afterward  suffered  for  witchcraft)  who  had  for 
sometime  been  afflicted  and  in  some  feares  about  her  spirit- 


s'* Fourteen  years  before,  in  December  1648,  Mary  Johnson,  having  been  tried 
at  Hartford,  had  been  found  "guilty  of  familliarity  with  the  Deuill,"  chiefly 
upon  her"owne  confession,"  and  been  executed.  During  "her  imprisonment 
the  famous  Mr.  6"^;/^  was  at  great  pains  to  promote  Iier  conversion  from  the 
Devil  to  God ;  "  but  there  is  no  probability  that  the  matter  came  any  nearer  the 
Church  than  this  service  of  its  minister.  Compare  Col.  Records,  i,  pp.  171  and 
143 ;  and  see,  as  to  the  story  itself,  Magnalia,  ii,  396. 

^5  Whiting's  letter  is  dated  at  Hartford,  December  4, 1682,  and  was  written  to 
forward  an  enterprise  of  Mather's,  in  the  Recording  of  Illustrious  Providences^ 
which  had  been  endorsed  by  a  "  generall  meeting  of  the  ministers  "  of  the  Bay 
Colony,  May  12,  i6Sr.  Mather  told  the  story  in  Vx's,  Rejuarkable  Providences. 
It  is  also,  in  abridged  form,  in  the  Magftalia,  ii,  pp.  389-390.  Whiting's  letter 
is  in  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Col.,  vol.  xxxvii. 

s*  Nathaniel  and  Rebecca  Greensmith,  concerning  whose  trial  and  affairs  see 
a  later  note. 


1659-1663.]  WITCHCRAFT    IN    HARTFORD.  lyj 

Liall   estate The  matter  is,  That  Anno,   1662,  This 

Anne  Cole  (living  in  her  ffather's  family)  was  taken  with 
stiange  fitts,  wherein  she  (or  rather  the  Devill,  as  'tis  judged, 
making  use  of  her  lips)  held  a  discourse  for  a  considerable 
time.  The  general  purport  of  it  was  to  this  purport,  that  a 
company  of  familiars  of  the  evil  one  (who  were  named  in  the 
discourse  that  passed  from  her)  were  contriving  to  carry  on 
their  mischievous  designes  against  some,  and  especially 
against  her,  mentioning  sundry  wayes  they  would  take  to 
that  end,  As  that  they  would  afflict  her  body,  spoile  her 
name,  hinder  her  marriage,  &c.,  wherein  the  generall  answer 
made  among  them  was,  She  runs  to  her  Rock.  This  method 
having  continued  for  some  howers.  The  conclusion  was,  Let 
us  confound  her  Language,  she  may  tell  no  more  tales. 
And  then  after  some  time  of  unintelligible  muttering,  the 
discourse  passed  into  a  Dutch  tone  (a  family  of  Dutch  then 
living  in  the  town)."'  ....  Judicious  M="  Stone  (who  is  now 
with  God)  being  by  when  the  latter  discourse  passed, 
declared  it  in  his  thoughts  impossible  that  one  not  familiarly 
acquainted  with  the  Dutch  (which  Anne  Cole  had  not  at  all 
been)  should  so  exactly  imitate  the  Dutch  tone  in  the  pro- 
nunciation of  English." 

The  matter  was  noised  about,  and  the  ministers,  and  per- 
haps some  others,  came  to  see  the  bewitched  girl : 

"  Sundry  times  such  kind  of  discourse  was  uttered  by  her, 
which  was  very  aweful  and  amazing  to  the  hearers:  M"" 
Sam'^  Hooker  was  present  the  lirst  time,  and  M""  Joseph 
Haines,  who  wrote  what  was  said,  so  did  the  Relator  also, 


"*'  The  Dutch  family  bore  the  name  of  Varleth.  Caspar  Varleth,  the  head  of 
the  house,  died  in  1663.  A  daughter  of  his,  just  about  this  time,  was  accused 
of  witchcraft.  A  letter  signed  P.  Stuyvesant, dated  "Amsterdam  in  N.  Nether- 
lant,  the  13  of  X^'' :  1662,"  is  extant,  addressed  to  the  "Honourable  debuty 
Governour,  &  Court  of  Magistracy  att  Hardfort,"  wherein  the  writer  pleads  for 
his  distressed  sister-in-law,  "Judith  Varleth,  jmprisoned  as  we  are  jmformed, 
vppon  pretend  accusation  of  wicherye."  Copy  by  C.  J.  Hoadly  from  Col, 
Boundaries,  ii,  doc.  i. 

23 


lyg  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1659-1663. 

when  he  came  to  the  house,  sometime  after  the  discourse 
began."  «^ 

The  hysteric  young  woman  also  disturbed  the  pubhc 
meetings  which  she  attended,  especially  a  prayer  meeting 
appointed  particularly  in  her  behalf,  by  her  outcries  and 
"violent  bodily  motions ;"  in  which  public  disturbances  she 
was  seconded  by  "  two  other  women,  who  had  also  strange 
fitts."  The  conclusion  of  beholders  was  that  Anne  Cole  was 
bewitched.  Unhappily,  however,  in  her  incoherent  babble- 
ment, she  had  mentioned  the  names  of  sundry  persons  as 
concerned  in  working  her  harm,  and  among  them,  of  her  next 
door  neighbors,  the  Greensmiths. 

"The  consequence  was,  That  one  of  the  persons  presented 
as  actiue  in  the  forementioned  discourse  (A  lewd,  ignorant, 
considerably  aged  woman)  being  a  prisoner  upon  suspition 
of  witchcraft,  the  Court  sent  for  M""  Haines  and  myselfe  to 
read  what  we  had  written ;  which  when  M""  Haines  had 
done  (the  prisoner  being  present)  she  forthwith  and  freely 
confessed  those  things  to  be  true,  that  she  (and  other  per- 
sons named  in  the  discourse)  had  famiharity  with  the  Devill. 
Being  asked  whether  she  had  made  an  express  covenant  with 
him  she  answered  she  had  not,  onely  as  she  promised  to  go 
with  him  when  he  called  (which  she  had  accordingly  done 
sundry  times).  But  that  the  Devill  told  her  that  at  Christ- 
mass  they  would  have  a  merry  meeting,  and  then  the  cove- 
nant should  be  drawn  and  subscribed :  Thereupon  the 
forementioned  M""  Stone  (being  then  in  court)  with  much 
weight  and  earnestness  laid  forth  the  exceeding  heinousness 
and  hazard  of  that  dreadful  sin," 

The  poor,  half-crazed,  old  creature  was  led  on  to  confess 


**  Rev.  Samuel  Hooker,  son  of  the  Pastor  of  the  First  Church,  had,  about 
eighteen  months  before,  been  ordained  pastor  at  Farmington.  He  was  a  class- 
mate of  Rev.  John  Whiting,  the  "  Relator  "  in  this  affair.  Mr.  Joseph  Haynes 
was  at  this  time,  probably,  studying  theology  at  his  home  at  Hartford  with  Mr. 
Stone,  and  perhaps  already  had  begun  to  preach  at  Wethersfield,  where  he  cer- 
tainly was  a  few  months  later.     He  was  installed  in  Hartford  in  1664. 


1659-1663.]  WITCHCRAFT   IN   HARTFORD.  j^q 

various  revolting  impossibilities,  with  the  narration  of  which 
it  is  not  necessary  to  soil  these  pages ;  but  the  result  of  the 
trial  was,''  that 

"  The  concurrent  evidence  brought  the  woman  and  her 
husband  to  their  death  as  the  Devill's  familiars,  and  most  of 
the  other  persons  mentioned  in  the  discourse  made  their 
escape  into  another  part  of  the  country." 

It  is  rather  poor  consolation,  after  the  tragical  issue  of 
Anne  Cole's  hysterical  chatterings,  to  be  told  by  Mr.  Whit- 
ing that 

"  After  this  execution  of  some'"  and  escape  of  others,  the 
good  woman  had  abatement  of  her  sorrows,  ....  is  joined 
to  the  church,  and  therein  been  a  humble  walker  for  many 
yeares."  " 

The  melancholly  controversy,  which  occupies  so  large  a 
chapter  in  Mr.  Stone's  ministry,  and  for  which  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  he  was  largely  responsible,  is  liable  to  hide  from 
us  the  many  admirable  qualities  of  a  man  who  was  certainly, 


*'The  trial  was  at  Hartford,  December  30,  1662.  The  "  Inditefnenf"  charged 
that  Nathaniel  Greensmith  and  his  wife  Rebecca  had  "  entertained  familiarity 
with  Satan  ;"  and  by  his  help  had  "  acted  things  in  a  preternaturall  way  byond 
humaine  abilities  in  a  naturall  course."  The  jury  found  both  guilty ;  and  the 
poor  old  wife  "confesseth  in  open  Court  that  she  is  guilty  of  y"  charge  laid 
agaynst  her."  The  "  Magestrates "  on  this  trial  were  "  M""  Allyn,  Mod'',  M'' 
Willys,  M^  Treat,  M>-  Woolcot,  Dan"  Clark,  et  Sec:  M'"  Jo:  Allyn."  The 
y«rj/  were  "  Edw :  Griswold,  Walter  Filer,  Ensigne  Olmstead,  Sam"  Boreman, 
Goodwin  Winterton,  John  Cowles,  Sam"  Marshall,  Sam"  Hale,  Nathan" 
Willet,  John  Hart,  John  Wadsworth,  Robert  Webster."  The  culprits  were 
executed  January  25,  1662-3,  and  the  inventory  of  Greensmith's  estate,  amount- 
ing to  ^181,  i8s.,  5(/.,  is  on  record  in  Hartford  probate  office. 

^'•'  It  seems  probable  that  Mary  Barnes,  of  Farmington,  was  executed  on  the 
same  occasion  as  the  Greensmiths.  She  was  indicted  January  6,  1662-3,  ^  week 
after  the  Greensmith  trial,  before  the  same  magistrates  and  nearly  the  same  jury 
and  found  guilty  of  witchcraft. 

^' Anne  Cole  went,  in  the  division  of  the  Hartford  Church,  with  Mr.  Whiting 
and  the  party  which  formed  the  Second  Church.  She  subsequently  married 
Andrew  Benton  and  had  several  children.  Her  Father,  John  Cole,  lived,  in 
1669,  on  the  South  Side,  having  been  made  a  Freeman  of  the  Colony  in  1657  ; 
rented,  in  1661,  "y°  estate  y'  formerly  belonged  to  Edward  Hopkins  Esq'';" 
and  was  a  man  of  some  public  trust.     Co/.  Rec,  i,  297,  370;  ii,  157,  51S. 


l8o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1659-1663. 

spite  of  all  imperfections,  a  man   of  marked  abilities  and  of 
sincere  godliness. 

.  Mr.  Stone  was  a  good  talker.     He  was  fond  of  anecdote 
and  had  capacity  for  pat  and  epigrammatic  expression. 

He  was,  indeed,  in  the  few  extended  writings  which  have 
been  preserved  to  us — as  a  catechism  ""  still  extant ;  and 
a  manuscript  body  of  divinity,  of  which  several  copies 
remain  ; "  and  one  tract  on  church  government,  published 
in  London  in  1652  "' — a  very  tedious  writer,  by  reason  of  the 
scholastic  method  of  his  thoughts  and  composition.  But  all 
accounts  agree  as  to  his  conversational  powers,"*  and  his 
influence  over  men.  And  it  can  well  be  seen  how  it  may 
have  been  so.  The  title  of  that  church-government  tract, 
just  referred  to,  "  A  Congregational  Church  a  Catholike 
Visible  Church,"  and  that  other  phrase  expressive  of  his 
high-church  notions  of  Congregationalism — quoted  a  little 
earlier  in  this  chapter — are  quite  unforgetable  expressions  ; 
sharp  as  were  ever  coined  by  a  master  of  sentences. 

That  Mr.  Stone  must  have  been  a  man  of  popular  quali- 
ties, is  witnessed  to,  not  only  by  the  feeling  toward  him  of 
the  soldiers  of  the  Pequot  expedition,  in  which  he  bore  a 
part,  and  for  which  the  Colony  granted  him  a  generous 
bestowment  of  land;""  but  the  very  name  of  the  Town 
itself  is  a  standing  memorial  of  him  ;  the  place  of  Mr. 
Stone's  birth,  being  chosen,  rather  than  that  of  any  other 


9=  Published  in  1684. 

9'  One  in  Watkinson  Library,  Hartford.  This  body  of  divinity  is  said  by 
Mather  to  have  been  often  transcribed  by  students  for  the  ministry,  and  to  have 
"made  some  of  our  most  considerable  divines^     Magnalia,  i,  p.  395. 

s*  "  A  Congregational  Church  is  a  Catholike  Visible  Church."  London, 
MDCLII. 

95  Magnalia,  i,  p.  394. 

96  Col.  Records,  i,  p.  413. 


1659-1663.]  STONE'S   DECLINE   AND   DEATH.  igi 

of  the  founders,  as  the  name  of  the  new  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness. 

Of  the  earnestness  of  his  rehgious  feeling  and  his  zeal  for 
his  Church's  spiritual  welfare,  Cotton  Mather  speaks  enthu- 
siastically in  his  short  life  of  this  "  Doctor  Irrefragabilis  ;  " 
but  the  cooler  page  of  dry  historic  chronicle  has  preserved 
for  us  a  single  fact,  even  more  suggestive  than  the  paragraphs 
of  the  eulogist.  Ten  years  after  Mr.  Stone  was  in  his  grave, 
Rev.  Jas.  Fitch  of  Norwich  wrote  to  the  Council  of  Con- 
necticut, in  reference  to  an  appointed  Fast :  "  We  intend, 
God  willing,  to  take  that  very  daye,  solemnly  to  renew  our 
covenant  in  church-state,  according  to  the  example  in  Ezra's 
time  &  as  was  sometimes  practiced  in  Hartford  congre- 
gation by  Mr.  Stone,  not  long  after  Mr.  Hooker's  death."  " 
While  of  the  brotherly  and  social  quality  of  Mr.  Stone's 
nature,  we  have  a  pleasant  hint  in  his  saying,  "  Heaven  is 
the  more  desirable,  for  such  company  as  Hooker  and  Shepard 
a7id  Hains,  who  are  got  there  before  me."  He  was  buried 
beside  his  more  distinguished  colleague,  the  slab  above  him 
testifying : 

"  New  England's  glory  &  her  radient  Crowne, 
Was  he  who  now  in  softest  bed  of  downe 
Till  gloriovs  Resvrection  morn  appeare, 
Doth  safely,  sweetly  sleepe  in  lesvs  here. 
In  Natvre's  solid  art,  and  reasoning  well, 
'Tis  knowna  beyond  compare  he  did  excell, 
Errors  corrvpt  by  sinnewovs  dispvte 
He  did  oppvgne,  and  clearly  did  confvte. 
Above  all  things  he  Christ  his  Lord  preferd, 
Hartford  thy  richest  Jewel's  here  interd."  "^ 


^'  Col.  Records,  ii,  p.  417,  note. 

***  Several  metrical  "  composures  "  in  reference  to  Mr.  Stone,  before  and  after 
his  death,  are  preserved,  two  of  which,  together  with  Mr.  Stone's  Will,  and 
Inventory  of  estate  will  be  found  in  Appendix  V. 


CHAPTER    VIII 


WHITING    AND    HAYNES    AND    THE    DIVISION  OF  THE 

CHURCH. 

It  has  been  seen  '  that  Rev.  John  Whiting  was  ordained 
colleague  with  Mr.  Stone  in  the  charge  of  the  Hartford 
Church  sometime,  probably,  in  1660.'^ 

The  new  minister  thus  set  in  office  was  a  son  of  William 
Whiting,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town,  a  Magistrate, 
and  from  1641  till  his  death,  the  Treasurer  of  the  Colony." 
Already  the  churches  of  New  England  were  beginning  to 
turn  to  their  own  children  as  their  ministers  ;  and  already 
the  college  at  Cambridge  was  bearing  fruit. 

John  Whiting  was  probably  born  in  1635,  and  was  educa- 
ted at  Harvard,  graduating  in  1653,  having  three  other  Hart- 
ford boys — Samuel  Willis,  Samuel  Hooker,  and  John  Stone 
— for  his  classmates.*     He  continued  his  connection  with 


'  Ante,  p.  175. 

2  A  vote  of  the  Town,  of  February  ii,  1661,  appropriated  "90  pounds  to  Mr. 
Whiting  for  this  year's  labour,  and  10  pounds  for  the  transporting  of  himself, 
family,  and  goods  from  the  Bay  to  Hartford." 

'^  He  died  in  July,  1647,  of  the  same  epidemical  sickness  which  carried  off  Mr. 
Hooker. 

*  Samuel  Willis  was  son  of  George  Willis,  Magistrate  and  Governor  of  this 
Colony.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1632,  and  died  in  1709.  He  lived  in  Hart- 
ford, a  man  of  trust  and  public  honor. 

Samuel  Hooker  was  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  ;  born  1635  ;  became  pas- 
tor at  Farmington  1661,  dying  in  1697. 

John  Stone  was  doubtless  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Stone,  by  his  first  wife,  who 
died  in  1640.     He  went  to  England  and  died  there. 

Besides  these  three  townsmen  of  Whiting,  Thomas  Shepard  of  Cambridge, 


i66o-i679-]  WHITING   AND    HAYNES.  ig^ 

the  college  apparently  a  year  after  taking  his  Bachelor 
degree.  He  lived  some  time  at  Cambridge  where,  with  his 
wife  Sybil,  daughter  of  Deacon  Edward  Collins  of  that  place, 
he  united  with  the  Cambridge  church,  and  had  children  bap- 
tized/ 

In  the  years  1657-1659  he  maintained  some  kind  of  min- 
isterial relationship  to  the  church  of  Salem,  assisting  Rev. 
Edward  Norris,  who  had  become  aged  and  infirm.  The  peo- 
ple of  Salem  would  gladly  have  retained  him  as  pastor,  and 
made  overtures  to  him  for  that  purpose  ;  but  without  perma- 
nent results/'  His  coming  to  Hartford  as  Mr.  Stone's  asso- 
ciate appears  to  have  been  attended  with  public  interest,  as 
the  Town  on  his  coming  voted  to  build  a  gallery  in  the  meet- 
ing-house, on  the  east  side  of  the  Church,  to  "  cost  twenty- 
two  or  three  pounds." 

During  Mr.  Stone's  survival  Mr.  Whiting,  as  has  been 
said,  seems  to  have  done  the  larger  share  of  the  work  ;  but 
at  Mr.  Stone's  death  the  people  were  still  too  full  of  the 
primitive  idea  of  a  dual  ministry  to  think  of  devolving  the 
labor  on  Mr.  Whiting  alone. 

Consequently  almost  immediately  upon  the  decease  of  the 
first  Teacher,  Rev.  Joseph  Haynes  was  invited  to  an  asso- 
ciate ministry  with  Rev.  John  Whiting.  Mr.  Haynes,  like 
his  associate,  was  a  Hartford  man.  He  was  son  of  Governor 
John  Haynes  by  his  second  wife,  Mabel  Harlakenden.  He 
was  born  about  1641,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
the  class  of  1658.'      He  preached  awhile  in  1663  and  1664  in 


born  1635,  ^O'^  °^  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard  of  the  same  place,  was  of  the  same 
class.  He  was  afterward  minister  of  the  church  in  Charlestown,  and  died  in 
1677.     See  Sibley's  Harvard  Graduates,  Vol.  I,  Class  of  1653. 

5  Ibid,  p.  344. 

^  Essex  Institute  Hist.  Coll ,  ix,  pp.  203-204,  210,  217,  etc. 

■^  Haynes  had  among  his  classmates,  Samuel  Talcott  of  Hartford  ;  born  about 
1635,  son  of  John  Talcott,  an  original  settler;  Samuel  Shepard,  born    1641, 


X84  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

Wethersfield,  and  some  time  in  the  latter  year  became  a  min- 
ister of  the  Hartford  Church.  At  first  Mr.  Whiting  received 
£80,  and  Mr.  Haynes  ^^70,  for  recompense ;  but  on  January 
28,  1666,  the  town  voted  the  two  ministers  the  same  sum  of 
^yo  each,  in  recognition  of  their  services  f  a  vote  which  was 
repeated  year  by  year  during  their  joint  ministry. 

Here  then  were  two  Hartford  young  men  —  Whiting  at 
his  settlement  was  twenty-five,  and  Haynes  at  his  settlement 
four  years  later,  was  twenty-three  —  of  common  associations 
and  mutual  fellowships  in  town  and  college,  united  in  the  pas- 
toral care  of  a  Church  which  was  the  mother  of  them  both. 
What  fairer  prospect  could  appear  for  a  happy  and  useful 
associate  ministry  ?  Nevertheless  two  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  the  younger  man  we  find  the  two  Pastors  in  open 
conflict,  the  Church  divided  into  parties,  and  an  ecclesiastical 
warfare  in  lively  progress,  which  in  less  than  four  years  more 
resulted  in  the  permanent  rupture  of  the  body  known  as  the 
Church  of  Hartford  into  two  separate  ecclesiastical  organiza- 
tions. 

A  vivid  picture  of  one  scene  of  the  drama  in  June  1666, 
just  when  the  sharper  phase  of  the  struggle  was  beginning, 
remains  to  us  from  the  pen  of  John  Davenport  of  New 
Haven,"  The  curtain  lifts  on  the  spectacle  of  "  young  M' 
Heynes,"  sending  "  3  of  his  partie  to  tell  M""  Whiting,  that 
the  nexte  Lecture-day  he  would  preach  about  his  way  of  bap- 


son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard  by  his  second  wife,  Joanna,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Hooker ;  and  Joseph  Eliot,  born  1638,  son  of  Rev.  John  Eliot,  the 
Apostle  to  the  Indians.  Talcott  settled  at  Wethersfield,  where  he  was  a  use- 
ful and  honored  citizen  and  public  officer ;  Shepard  became  minister  at  Row- 
ley, and  died  at  the  age  of  26 ;  Eliot  became  minister  at  Guilford,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  55. 

s  Town  Records.  It  is  pleasant  to  note,  at  the  same  date,  that  the  town  had 
not  forgotten  Mrs.  Stone,  but  voted  her  £2.0,  having  in  1664  voted  her  £z^. 

^  Mass.  Hist  Coll.,  T,d  Series,  x,  59-62. 


i66o-i679.]  DIVISION   OF   THE   CHURCH.  185 

tizing,  and  would  begin  the  practicing  of  it  on  that  day." 
Lecture-day  came.  Mr.  Haynes  preached.  "  Water  was 
prepared  for  baptism "  which,  Mr.  Davenport  says,  "  was 
never  administred  in  a  weeke  day  in  that  Church,  before." 
But  up  stood  the  senior  Pastor,  Mr.  Whiting,  and  "as  his 
place  and  duty  required,  testifyed  against  it,  and  refused  to 
consent."  A  wordy  contest  began.  Rev.  John  Warham  of 
Windsor,  now  an  old  man,  was  present,  probably  by  request 
of  the  senior  Pastor,  Mr.  Whiting.  Presuming  on  the  "com- 
mon concernment  to  all  the  churches"  of  the  matter  in 
debate,  he  attempted  to  speak,  but  was  "  rudely  hindered  "  by 
the  exclamation  "  What  hath  M''  Warham  to  do  to  speake  in 
our  Church  matters  .'' "  The  meeting  apparently  broke 
up  in  a  tumult,  but  was  followed  by  a  challenge  from  the 
younger  to  the  older  Pastor  for  a  public  "dispute  about  it 
with  M''  Whiting  the  next  Lecture  day  ;  "  an  ecclesiastical 
contest  which  probably  came  off  according  to  programme  — 
as  Mr.  Davenport  says  it  was  "agreed  upon"  —  but  of  which 
no  account  remains  to  us  ;  and  of  the  utility  and  even 
decency  of  which,  as  between  two  Pastors  of  the  same  flock, 
it  may  be  permitted  to  entertain  doubts. 

This  contest  between  Mr.  Whiting  and  Mr.  Haynes  about 
Baptism  was  only  an  incident  in  a  general  conflict  of  opinion 
and  behavior  in  the  New  England  churches  at  large  at  the 
period  in  question.  To  understand  it,  and  to  understand  the 
movement  of  which  it  was  only  a  pictorial  incident,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  take  a  survey  of  some  antecedent  facts  of 
New  England  church  history. 

The  original  theory  upon  which  the  churches  were  gath- 
ered upon  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  was  the  personal  regen- 
erate character  of  all  the  membership.     "  Visible  saints  only 

are  fit  Matter  appointed  by  God  to  make  up  a  visible  Church 

24 


l86  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

of  Christ,"  '"  was  the  language  of  Mr.  Hooker,  which  may 
be  said  to  express  the  generally  accepted  view  of  the  prim- 
itive New  England  churches.''  The  founders  of  these 
churches  had  come  from  lands  where  a  different  theory  of 
membership  prevailed.  All  the  baptized  inhabitants  of  an 
English,  German,  or  Genevan  parish,  were  accounted  mem- 
bers of  the  there  existing  Church,  even  if  manifestly  destitute 
of  Christian  character.  This  was  a  condition  of  things 
against  which  the  New  England  fathers  desired  to  guard. 
They  attempted  to  do  it  by  vigorously  applying,  at  the  door- 
way of  entrance  to  the  churches  they  established,  the  tests 
of  visible  saintship,  found  in  regenerate  character.  These 
tests  were,  to  a  considerable  extent,  the  outgrowth  of  a  pecu- 
liar and  high-strained  type  of  theology,  and  demanded  a 
special  and  definite  religious  "experience." 

The  attempt  was  well  intended,  and  was  what  the  past 
acquaintance  with  the  parish-system,  on  the  part  of  the  New 
England  founders,  almost  shut  them  up  to.  But  administered 
as  the  endeavor  was,  in  the  application  of  those  rigorous 
religious  standards  of  determination  by  which  alone  entrance 
to  the  Church  was  allowed  to  adult  applicants,  and  by  which 
approach  was  granted  to  children  born  in  the  Church  to  the 
full  privileges  of  church  membership,  it  was  attended  by  two 
inevitable  consequences.  It  left  a  very  considerable  number 
of  adult  people,  of  good  moral  and  even  religious  character, 
outside  of  any  church-fellowship  at  all ;  deprived  of  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  sacraments,  and  having  no  voice  in  the  selection 


^^  Survey,  p.  14. 

1'  Some  ministers,  as  the  pastor  and  teacher  at  Newbury,  and  at  his  first  com- 
ing, Rev.  Mr.  Warham  of  Windsor,  seem  to  have  held  a  conception  of  the 
Church  more  kindred  to  the  English  "parish-way."  See  Dr.  P'uller's  letter  to 
Gov.  Bradford,  June  28,  1630:  "Mr.  Warham  holds  that  the  visible  church 
may  consist  of  a  mixed  people,  godly  and  openly  ungodly."  Young's  Chroni- 
cles, Mass.,  p.  347,  note. 


i66o-i679-]  DIVISION  OF  THE  CHURCH.  187 

of  ministers  whom  they  were  nevertheless  legally  bound  to 
support/'  And  it  left  a  growing  body  of  youth,  who,  having 
been  baptized  in  infancy  and  so  accounted  in  a  manner  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  were  not  consciously  regenerate,  and 
therefore  not  welcomed  to  the  Lord's  table,  nor  supposed 
capable  of  presenting  their  children  in  turn  for  baptism. 

The  dangers  which  grew  out  of  this  condition  of  affairs 
were  discerned  by  some  quite  early.'" 

Indeed  as  early  as  1646,  the  perception  of  the  evil  which 
this  state  of  things  involved,  was  the  basis  of  a  formal  peti- 
tion to  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  for  redress  ;  the 
petitioners  pleading  that  they  "were  denied  the  liberty  of 
subjects  both  in  church  and  commonwealth ;  themselves 
and  their  children  debarred  from  the  seals  of  the  covenant, 
except  they  would  submit  to  such  a  way  of  entrance  and 
church  covenant  as  their  consciences  would  not  admit."  '' 

The  difficulty  was  thus  a  two-fold  one,  having  reference  to 
adult  people  never  "confederated"  in  churches  of  the  New 
England  way;  and  to  the  children  of  "confederating  parents" 
who  came  to  years  of  discretion  and  maturity  without  having 
attained  the  necessary  and  gracious  experience  to  become 
full  participants  of  church  privileges. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  ministers  of  early  New  England 


'^  The  New  England  device  of  a  Parish-system,  co-ordinate  with  the  Church 
and  having  an  associate  voice  with  the  Church  in  the  choice  of  a  minister,  is 
an  attempt  partially  to  meet  one  portion  of  this  difficulty. 

'3  Thomas  Lechford's  exaggerated  prophecy,  uttered  about  1640  {Plaine  Deal- 
ing, Preface,  p.  7)  of  the  result  to  be  looked  for  in  "twenty  years,"  when  the 
unbaptized  would  "rise  up  against  the  Church  and  break  forth  into  many  griev- 
ous distempers  among  themselves,"  had  in  it  some  gleam  of  truthful  foresight. 

"  This  petition,  which  much  accords  with  that  of  William  Pitkin  and  others 
to  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  eighteen  years  later,  was  signed  by  several 
very  respectable  inhabitants  of  the  Colony;  but  action  was  postponed,  "the 
Court  being  then  near  an  end,  and  the  matter  being  very  weighty."  Winthrop's 
Journal,  ii,  319-321. 


1 88  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

recognized  the  danger,  and  were  inclined  to  take  such  a  view 
of  the  Church,  and  of  the  relationship  of  the  baptized  to  the 
Church,  as  would  meet  that  part,  at  least,  of  the  difficulty  in 
the  case  which  was  experienced  by  parents  who,  having  been 
themselves  baptized  but  not  admitted  to  the  Lord's  Supper, 
desired  baptism  for  their  children.  So  early  as  Dec.  16, 
1634,  Rev.  John  Cotton  wrote  to  the  church  of  Dorchester : 

"  The  case  of  conscience  which  you  propounded  to  our  Con- 
sideration [to  wit  whether  a  Grand  Father  being  a  member 
of  a  Christian  church  might  claim  Baptism  to  his  Grandchild 
whose  next  parents  be  not  recieved  into  church-covenant] 
has  been  deliberately  treated  of  in  our  church  Assembled 
together  publickly  in  the  name  of  Christ.  And  upon  due 
and  serious  discourse  about  the  point  it  seemed  good  to  us  all 
with  ojie  accord,  and  agreeable  as  we  believe  to  the  Word  of 
the  Lord,  that  the  Grand  Father  may  lawfully  claim  that 
privilege  to  his  Grand  Child  in  such  a  case."  '° 

In  1645  Richard  Mather  of  Dorchester  wrote  : 

"  It  is  not  the  Parents'  fitness  for  the  Lord's  Supper  that 
is  the  ground  of  baptizing  their  Children :  but  the  Parents 
and  so  their  Children  being  in  the  Covenant,  this  is  that 
which  is  the  main  ground  thereof :  and  so  long  as  this  doth 
continue  not  dissolved  by  any  Church  censure  against  them, 
nor  by  any  scandalous  sin  of  theirs,  so  long  the  Children 
may  be  baptized."  '" 

In  1648  Rev.  Ralph  Partridge  of  the  Plymouth  Colony, 
presented  a  draft  of  a  Platform  of  Discipline  to  the  Cam- 
bridge Synod,  then  in  session,  in  which  he  lays  down  this 
doctrine  : 

"  The  persons  unto  whom  the  Sacrament  of  Baptisme  is 


'5  Increase  Mather's  First  frinciples  of  New  England,  p.  2.  Mr.  Hooker 
never  acceded  to  this  view  of  his  early  associate.  He  argues  at  great  length 
against  the  possibility  of  extending  the  privilege  of  baptism  to  any  but  the 
immediate  offspring  of  the  parents  in  Covenant.     See  Survey,  part  iii,  pp.  9-27. 

'8  First  Principles,  p.  il. 


1660-1679]  DIVISION   OF   THE   CHURCH.  189 

dispensed  (and  as  we  concieve  ought  to  be)  are  such  as  being 
of  years  and  converted  from  their  Sins  to  the  Faith  of  Jesus 
Christ  do  joyn  in  Communion  and  Fellowship  with  a  particu- 
lar visible  Church,  as  also  the  children  of  such  Parent  or 
Parents  as  having  laid  hold  of  the  Covenant  of  grace  (in  the 
judgement  of  Charity)  are  in  a  Visible  Covenant  with  his 
Church,  and  all  their  seed  after  them  that  cast  not  off  the 
Covenant  of  God  by  some  Scandalous  and  obstinate  going  on 
in  sin."  " 

In  1649  Thomas  Shepherd  of  Cambridge,  is  represented 
by  Mather  thus  : 

"  He  does  assert  and  prove  that  Children  are  members  of 
the  Visible  Chnrch,  and  that  their  membership  continues 
when  they  are  Adult,  and  that  the  Children  of  Believers  are 
to  be  accounted  of  the  Church  until  they  positively  reject  the 
Gospel,  and  that  the  membership  of  children  hath  no  ten- 
dency in  it  to  pollute  the  Church,  any  more  now  than  under 
the  Olel  Testament,  and  that  Children  are  under  Church 
discipline,  and  that  some  persons  Adnlt  may  be  admitted  to 
Baptisme  and  yet  not  to  the  Lord's, Supper."  ." 

In  1650  Mr.  Stone  of  the  Hartford  Church  wrote : 

"  I  concieve  (saith  Mr.  Stone)  that  Children  of  Church 
Members  have  right  to   Church   membership  by  virtue  of 

their  Father's  Covenant If   they  be  presented   to  a 

Church  and  Claim  their  Interest  they  cannot  be  denyed.  .  .  . 
I  spake  with  Mr  Warham  and  we  question  not  the  right  of 
Children,  but  we  concieve  it  would  be  Comfortable  to 
have  some  Concurrence,  which  is  that  we  have  waited  for  a 
Long  Time."' '" 


'"  Ibid,  p.  23. 

'^  Ibid,  p.  22. 

''•*  Ibid,  p.  9.  Mr.  Warham,  to  whom  Mr,  Stone  refers,  occupied  at  different 
times  different  positions  on  this  subject.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  1657,  which  endorsed  this  theory  of  baptism,  and  he  began  the  practice  of  it 
"January  31,  i657[8],  and  went  on  in  the  practice  of  it  until  March  19,  i664[5]; 
on  which  day  he  declared  to  the  church  that  he  had  met  with  such  arguments 
against  the  practice  ....  that  he  must  forbear  until  he  had  weighed  arguments 


IQO  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1660-1679. 

In  165 1  Rev.  Mr.  Prudden  of  Milford  wrote  : 
"Touching  the  desire  of  such  members  Children  as  desire 
to  have  their  Children  baptized,  it  is  a  thing  I  do  not  yet 
hear  practiced,  but  for  my  own  part  I  am  inclined  to  think  it 
cannot  justly  be  denyed,  because  their  next  Parents  however 
not  admitted  to  the  Lord's  Supper  stand  as  compleat  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  within  the  Covenant."  "° 

So  in  1652  Rev.  Henry  Smith  of  Wethersfield  wrote  : 
"  Our  thoughts  here  are  that  the  promise  made  to  the  Seed 
of  Confederates,  Gen.  17,  takes  in  all  Children  of  Confeder- 
ating Parents,  whether  baptized  here  or  elsewhere,  whether 
younger  or  Elder,  if  they  do  either  expressly  or  otherwayes 
may  be  Concieved  in  the  Judgement  of  Charity  to  Consent 
thereto."  "^ 

In  the  same  year  Rev.  N.  Rogers  of  Ipswich  wrote : 
"  To    the   question    concerning   the    Children    of    Church 
Members,  I  have  nothing  to  oppose,  and  I  wonder  why  any 

should  deny  them  to  be  members We  are  this  week 

to  meet  in  the  Church  about  it,  and  I  know  nothing  but  we 
must  speedily  fall  to  practice."  "" 

This  undoubtedly  was  done  soon  after,  for  in  1655  the  Ips- 
wich Church  put  on  record  the  following  vote :  "We  judge 
that  the  children  of  such  adult  persons  "  [those  baptized  in 
infancy]  "  that  were  of  understanding  and  not  scandalous,  and 
shall  take  the  Covenant,  that  their  children  shall  be  bap- 
tized." '''  The  Dorchester  Church  took  similar  action  the  same 
year."*     Salem  had  come  to  similar  conclusions  still  earlier."^ 


and  advised  with  those  that  were  able  to  give  [advice]."  Windsor  Ch.  Records, 
Stiles'  History,  p.  172.  The  Church  resumed  the  practice  by  vote,  June  21, 
1668,  under  'Mr.  Chauncy.  Meantime,  in  June,  1666,  Mr.  Warham  seems  to 
have  been  opposed  to  the  practice,  and  is  spoken  of  by  Davenport,  in  the 
letter  before  referred  to,  as  "sound"  in  the  matter. 

Z'J  Ibid,  p.  26. 

2'  Ibid,  p.  21. 

2^  Ibid,  23-24. 

'■^3  Contribiitiofts  to  Hist.  Essex  Co.,  p.  271. 

2-»  Felt,  ii,  134. 

25  White's  N.  E.  Congregationalism,  p.  60. 


1660-1679]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  -    jqi 

Connecticut,  therefore,  cannot  be  charged  with  originating 
the  new  departure  in  the  enlargement  of  the  scope  of  Bap- 
tism and  in  favoring  of  the  "  parish-way,"  although  the  earli- 
est motion  for  an  authoritative  utterance  upon  the  subject 
came  from  her.  The  matter  was  in  the  air.  And  in  the 
turmoiled  state  of  the  Hartford  Church,  owing  to  an  ecclesi- 
astical quarrel  between  its  officers,  the  question  was  all  the 
more  liable  to  expression.  As  Trumbull  says,  "  Numbers  of 
them  took  this  opportunity  to  introduce  into  the  Assembly  a 
Hst  of  grievances,  on  account  of  their  being  denied  their  just 
rights  and  privileges  by  the  ministers  and  churches."""  The 
two  questions  —  the  rights  of  "non-confederating"  parish- 
ioners in  the  choice  of  a  minister,  and  the  rights  of  children 
of  baptized  parents  not  admitted  to  full  communion,  were  the 
main  points  in  debate. 

It  has  sometimes  been  said  that  political  disabilities  under- 
lay this  agitation.  No  evidence  exists  of  it.  There  were  no 
new  political  privileges  to  be  gained  by  the  enlargement  of 
baptism  or  half-way  entrance  into  the  church-state.  Not 
even  in  Massachusetts  or  New  Haven  did  such  entrance 
bring  with  it  any  additional  secular  privilege.  Least  of  all 
is  such  a  suggestion  even  plausible  as  to  Connecticut,  where 
no  limitation  of  privilege  to  church-members  had  ever  been 
attempted.  The  motive  was  a  religious  one,  whether  wise  or 
unwise. 

Connecticut,  May  15,  1656,  appointed  a  committee  to  con- 
fer with  the  elders  of  the  Colony  about  "those  things  y'  are 
p'sented  to  this  Courte  as  grevances  to  severall  persons 
amongst  vs,"'"  with  a  view  to  presenting  the  same  to  the 
General  Courts  of  the  United  Colonies.     Upon  the  represen- 


'^^  History,  i,  298. 

-'  Col.  Records,  i,  281. 


IQ2     .  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

tations  thus  made  by  Connecticut,  which  took  the  form,  in 
part,  of  a  series  of  questions  for  discussion,  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  passed  an  order,  October  21st,'* 
responding  to  Connecticut's  proposal  for  a  deliberative 
Assembly ,"'•'  and  selected  thirteen  of  the  teaching  elders  of 
the  Colony'"  to  meet  with  the  elders  of  the  other  Colonies 
on  the  following  June  for  the  purposes  designated.  Provis- 
ion was  made  for  the  entertainment  of  the  Assembly,  and 
letters  of  invitation  and  copies  of  Connecticut's  letter  and 
questions  sent.  Plymouth  apparently  gave  no  answer.  New 
Haven  wrote  a  letter  declining  to  attend,  and  saying : 

"  We  hear  that  the  petition's,  or  others  closing  with  them, 
are  very  confident  that  they  shall  obteyn  great  alterations, 
both  in  civill  governm*,  and  in  church-discipline,  and  that 
some  of  them  have  procured  or  hyred  one  as  their  agent  to 
maintayne  in  writing  (as  is  conceived)  that  parishes  in  Eng- 
land, consenting  to  and  continewing  their  meetings  to  worship 
God  are  true  Churches,  and  such  persons  coming  over  hither 
(w'hout  holding  forth  any  worke  of  faith,  etc.),  have  right  to 
all  church  privileges  ;  And  probably  they  expect  their  depu- 
tie  should  employ  himself  and  improve  his  interests,  to  spread 
and  press  such  paradoxes  in  the  Massachusetss,  yea  at  the 
synod  or  meeting." 

New  Haven  further  urged  the  departure  to  England  of 
Hooke  and  Whitfield,  and  the  death  of  Prudden,  as  an  addi- 
tional reason  for  declining  to  send  delegates  ;  but  forwarded 


28  Mass.  Col.  Rec,  iii,  419. 

2^  The  gathering  proposed  was  of  ministers  only ;  not  of  churches  by  their 
ministers  and  messengers.  And  herein  doubtless,  the  stricter  Congregational- 
ists  found  a  source  of  offence,  as  savoring  of  a  greater  authority  in  the  min- 
istry than  their  principles  allowed.  They  complained  of  all  such  concessions 
as  "Presbyterian." 

30  The  Elders  designated  by  Massachusetts  were  Revs.  Messrs.  Norton,  R. 
Mather,  Allin,  and  Thatcher  of  Suffolk ;  Buckley,  Chauncey,  Symmes,  Sherman, 
and  Mitchell  of  Middlesex ;  and  Norris,  E.  Rogers,  Whiting,  and  Cobbett  of 
Essex. 


i66o-i679-]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  1^3 

a  series  of  answers  to  the  questions  proposed  by  Connecti- 
cut, drawn  up  by  the  hand  of  John  Davenport.  The  General 
Court  of  Connecticut,  on  February  26,  1657,  appointed  Mr. 
Warham  of  Windsor,  Mr.  Stone  of  Hartford,  Mr.  BHnman 
of  New  London,  and  Mr.  Russell  of  Wethersfield,  the  dele- 
gates for  this  Colony. 

The  Assembly  of  Elders  met  at  Boston,  June  4,  1657,  and 
sat  a  fortnight  in  deliberation.  It  gave  formal  answers  to 
twenty-one  proposed  questions.  The  answer  to  the  loth 
question  is  chiefly  important,  viz. : 

*'  It  is  the  duty  of  children  who  confederate  in  their  parents 
when  grown  up  to  years  of  discretion,  though  not  yet  fit  for 
the  Lord's  supper,  to  own  the  Covenant  they  made  with  their 
Parents  by  entering  thereinto  in  their  own  persons  ;  and  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  church  to  call  upon  them  for  the  perform- 
ance thereof  ;  and  if  being  called  upon  they  shall  refuse  the 
performances  of  this  great  duty,  or  otherwise  continue  scan- 
dalous, they  are  liable  to  be  censured  for  the  same  by  the 
church.  And  in  case  they  understand  the  Grounds  of  Relig- 
ion and  are  not  scandalous,  and  solemnly  own  to  the  Cove- 
nant in  their  own  persons,  wherein  they  give  up  both  them- 
selves and  their  children  unto  the  Lord,  and  desire  baptism 
for  them,  we  (with  due  reverence  to  any  godly  learned  that 
may  dissent)  see  not  sufficient  cause  to  deny  baptism  unto 
their  children."" 

This  answer,  as  Dr.  Trumbull  intimates,'"  virtually  carried 
with  it  the  right  of  all  baptized  persons  to  vote  in  the  choice 
of  a  minister  whether  in  full  fellowship  or  not,  and  was  so 
far,  a  practical  recognition  of  the  parish-way  of  Old  Eng- 
land as  against  the  church-way  of  New  England's  prevalent 
usage. 

On  the  1 2th  of  August  following,  "A  true    coppy  of  the 


^1  Hubbard,  pp.  566-567 
3^  History,  i,  p.  304. 
25 


ip4  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1660-1679. 

Counsells  answere  to  seuerall  questions  "  was  presented  to 
the  "Court,  signed  by  Reuerend  Mr.  Sam:  Stone,  in  the 
name  of  the  rest  of  the  Counsell."  Whereupon  the  Court 
ordered : 

"That  coppies  should  goe  forth  to  the  seu^'ail  Churches  in 
this  Collony  as  speedily,  &  if  any  exceptions  bee  against  any 
thing  therein,  by  any  Church  that  shall  haue  the  considera- 
tion thereof,  the  Court  desires  they  would  acquaint  the  next 
Gen :  Court  in  Hartford,  in  Octo'' :  that  so  suitable  care  may 
bee  had  for  their  solution  &  satisfaction." '" 

With  all  this  preparation  of  the  way,  however,  and  this 
ecclesiastical  endorsement,  the  churches  were  slow  to  accept 
the  change.  "  Yea  it  met  with  such  opposition  as  could  not 
be  encountered  with  anything  less  than  a  Synod  of  Elders 
and  Messengers,  from  all  the  churches  in  the  Massachusetts 
colony."  '^  This  Synod,  in  which  the  two  western  Colonies 
were  not  represented,  but  which  was  composed  of  "  above 
seventy"  members,  met  in  Boston,  March  11-21,  1662;  and, 
by  a  vote  of  more  than  seven  to  one,  confirmed  the  principle 
set  forth  in  the  loth  answer  of  the  ministerial  assembly  of 
1657 — the  principle  known  as  the  "Half-way-Covenant." 
The  language  of  the  Synod  on  this  point  is  as  follows : 

"  Church-members  who  were  admitted  in  minority,  under- 
standing the  doctrine  of  faith,  and  publickly  professing  their 
assent  thereto:  not  scandalous  in  life,  and  solemnly  owning 
the  covenant  before  the  church,  wherein  they  give  up  them- 
selves and  children  to  the  Lord,  and  subject  themselves  to 
the  government  of  Christ  in  the  church,  their  children  are  to 
be  baptised." "" 

A  minority  of  able  and  devout  men  opposed  this  conclu- 
sion, in  the  Synod  and  afterward.    But  the  vote  of  the  Synod 

^  Col.  Records,  i,  302. 
^  Magnalia,  ii,  239. 
^Ibid,  pp.  249-250. 


i66o-i679-]  DIVISION   OF  THE  CHURCH.  195 

was  overwhelming.  Its  meaning  has  been  well  expressed  by 
one  of  Connecticut's  most  eminent  pastors  and  historians  : 
"  It  did  not  merely  provide  that  baptized  persons  growing  up 
in  the  bosom  of  the  church  with  blameless  character,  and 
without  any  overt  denial  of  the  faith  in  which  they  were 
nurtured,  might  offer  their  children  for  baptism  without 
being  required  to  demand  and  obtain  at  the  same  time  the 
privilege  of  full  communion.  But  it  also  provided  that  such 
persons,  as  a  condition  preliminary  to  the  baptism  of  their 
children,  should  make  a  certain  public  profession  of  Chris- 
tian faith  and  Christian  obedience,  including  a  formal  cove- 
nant with  God  and  with  the  church,  which  at  the  same  time 
was  to  be  understood  as  implying  no  profession  of  any 
Christian  experience.  The  former,  by  itself,  might  have 
been  a  comparatively  harmless  innovation.  The  latter  was  a 
grave  theological  error,  hardening  and  establishing  itself  in 
the  form  of  an  ecclesiastical  system."  "" 

The  year  following  this  Synod,  Mr.  Stone,  the  Teacher  of 
the  Hartford  Church,  died.  The  next  year,  1664,  saw  the 
association  of  Mr.  Haynes  with  Mr.  Whiting  in  the  pastorate 
of  the  Hartford  Church. 

A  few  months  later,  encouraged  by  the  declaration  of  the 
Synod,  and,  probably,  also  discouraged  by  the  attitude  of  the 
churches  in  not  at  once  yielding  to  the  position  taken  by 
the  Synod,  a  carefully  drawn  petition  was  presented  to  the 
General   Court   by  William   Pitkin,"  of  Hartford,   and  six 


3^  Dr.  Bacon,  Cont.  to  Conn.  Eccl.  Hist.,  pp.  21-22. 

3"  William  Pitkin,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  this  country,  was  born  in 
1635,  in  London,  England.  He  had  an  excellent  English  and  law  education, 
but  left  a  large  manuscript  volume  of  religious  writings,  still  extant,  which 
show  him  to  have  been  a  man  of  piety,  and  of  no  mean  knowledge  in  theology, 
also.  He  came  to  Hartford  in  1659.  He  was  Attorney  for  the  Colony,  and 
Representative  in  the  Assembly,  many  years;  Treasurer,  in  1676;  and  from 
1690  till  his  death,  in  1694,  a  member  of  the  Council.     He  married,  in  1660-61, 


tg6  THE  FIRST  CHURCH  IN   HARTFORD.        [1660-1679. 

Others,  in  October  of  this  year,  the  main  points  of  which  are 
contained  in  the  following  quotation  from  it,  viz.  : 

"  Our  aggrevience  is,  that  we  and  ours,  are  not  under  the 
due  care  of  an  orthodox  ministry,  that  will  in  a  due  manner 
administer  to  us  those  ordinances  that  we  stand  capable  of, 
as  the  baptising  of  our  children,  our  being  admitted  (as  we 
according  to  Christ's  order  may  be  found  meet)  to  the  Lord's 
Table,  and  a  careful  watch  over  us  in  our  way,  and  suitable 
dealing  with  us  as  we  do  well  or  ill,  with  all  whatsoever  ben- 
efits and  advantages  belong  to  us  as  members  of  Christ's 

visible  church Furthermore  we  humbly  request,  that 

for  the  future  no  law  in  this  corporation  may  be  of  any  force 
to  make  us  pay  or  contribute  the  maintenance  of  any  min- 
ister or  officer  of  the  church  that  will  neglect  or  refuse  to 
baptise  our  children  &  to  take  care  of  us,  as  of  such  mem- 
bers of  the  church  as  are  under  his  or  their  charge  or  care."  ^^ 


Hannah,  daughter  of  Ozias  Goodwin,  brother  of  Elder  William  Goodwin.  His 
character,  as  manifested  throughout  his  life,  and  as  revealed  in  the  remarkable 
volume  of  his  religious  compositions,  shows  that  the  part  he  took  in  the  church 
controversy  was  one  in  which  he  was  sincere  and  moved  by  honorable  convic- 
tions. 

2^  The  signers  of  this  petition  with  William  Pitkin,  of  Hartford,  were 
Michael  Humphrey,  of  Windsor ;  John  Stedman,  of  Hartford ;  James  Eno,  of 
Windsor  ;  Robert  Reeve,  John  Moses,  and  Jonas  Westover,  both  the  last  two 
of  Windsor.  See  Stiles'  Windsor,  pp.  167-16S.  This  was  an  old  grievance. 
As  long  before  as  1639,  the  "  Elders  of  the  seuerall  Churches  in  New  England  " 
had  had  occasion  to  reply  to  questions  on  this  matter  put  to  them  by  "divers 
Ministers  in  England,"  and  had  especially  addressed  themselves  to  the  interrog- 
atory, "  Whether  you  will  permit  such  members  [of  English  Churches]  as  are 
either  famously  knowne  to  yourselves  to  be  godly,  or  doe  bring  sufficient  Testi- 
monial from  others  that  are  so  knowne,  or  from  the  Congregation  whereof  they 
were  members,"  to  join  themselves  to  the  New  England  churches.  The  cogent 
reply  would  probably  have  fitted  the  Hartford  case,  as  well  as  the  earlier  ones 
in  view  of  which  it  was  written.  It  is :  "  Our  Answer  to  this  Question  is  this, 
I.  That  we  never  yet  knew  any  to  come  from  England  in  such  a  manner  as  you 
do  here  describe  (if  the  things  you  mention  be  taken  conjimctim,  and  not 
severally)  viz:  to  be  Men  famously  known  to  be  godly,  and  to  bring  sufficient 
Testimonial!  thereof  from  others  that  are  so  knowne,  and  from  the  Congregation 
itselfe,  whereof  they  were  members :  We  say  we  never  yet  knew  any  to  come  to 
us  from  thence  in  such  a  manner,  but  one  or  other  of  the  things  here  mentioned 
are  wanting :  and  generally  this  is  wanting  in  all  of  them,  that  they  bring  no 


i66c^i679-]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  igy 

The  meaning  of  this  was  that  Mr.  William  Pitkin  and  his 
associates,  having  been  members  of  the  English  National 
Church,  desired  to  be  accounted,  on  the  basis  of  that  relation- 
ship, without  further  requirement,  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational churches  of  the  places  where  they  resided  in  New 
England. 

Their  appeal  to  the  Court  met  with  sympathy.  That  body, 
at  the  same  session,  took  the  following  action  : 

"  This  Court  vnderstanding  by  a  writing  presented  to  them 
from  seuerall  persons  of  this  Colony,  that  they  are  agrieved 
that  they  are  not  interteined  in  church  fellowship ;  This 
Court  haueing  duly  considered  the  same,  desireing  that  the 
rules  of  Christ  may  be  attended,  doe  commend  it  to  the  min- 
isters and  churches  in  this  Colony  to  consider  whither  it  be 
not  their  duty  to  enterteine  all  such  persons,  whoe  are  of  an 
honest  and  godly  conuersation,  haueing  a  competency  of 
knowledg  in  the  principles  of  religion,  and  shall  desire  to 
joyne  w'^  them  in  church  fellowship,  by  an  explicitt  covenant, 
and  that  they  haue  their  children  baptized,  and  that  all  the 
children  of  the  church  be  accepted  and  accot^^  reall  members 
of  the  church,  and  that  the  church  exercise  a  due  Christian 
care  and  watch  ouer  them  ;  and  that  when  they  are  growne 
up,  being  examined  by  the  officer  in  the  presence  of  the 
church,  it  appeares  in  the  judgement  of  charity,  they  are  duely 
qualifyed  to  perticipate  in  that  great  ordinance  of  the  Lords 
Supper,  by  theire  being  able  to  examine  themselues  and 
discerne  the  Lords  body,  such  persons  be  admitted  to  full 
coihunion. 


Testimonial!  from  the  Congregation  itselfe :  and  therefore  no  marvell  if  they 
have  not  been  admitted  (further  than  before  hath  been  expressed  in  Answer  to 
Quest.  I.)  to  Church  Ordinances  with  us,  before  they  have  joyned  to  one  or 
other  of  our  Churches;  for  though  some  that  came  over  bee  famously  knowne 
to  ourselves  to  be  Godly,  or  bring  sufficient  Testimoniall  with  them  from 
private  Christians,  yet  neither  is  our  knowledge  of  them,  nor  Testimonial  from 
private  Christians,  sufficient  to  give  us  Church-power  over  them,  which  we  had 
need  to  have,  if  we  must  dispence  the  Ordinances  of  Church  communion  to 
them ;  though  it  be  sufficient  to  procure  all  due  Reverent  respect,  and  hearty 
love  to  them  in  the  Lord."     Answer  of  the  Elders,  pp.  28-29. 


1^8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

"  This  Court  desires  y^^  the  seuerall  officers  of  y^  respectiue 
churches  would  be  pleased  to  consider  whither  it  be  not  the 
duty  of  the  Court  to  order  the  churches  to  practice  according 
to  the  premises,  if  they  doe  not  practice  w'hout  such  order. 
If  any  dissent  from  the  contents  of  this  writing  they  are 
desired  to  help  the  Court  w'''  such  light  as  is  w*''  them,  the 
next  Session  of  this  Assembly.  The  Court  orders  the 
Secrefy  to  send  a  copy  of  this  writing  to  the  seuerall  min- 
isters and  churches  in  this  Colony."  ^^ 


33  Col.  Records,  i,  pp.  437-438.  How  many  "  dissented  "  and  "  helped  the 
Court  with  such  light  as  was  in  them,"  is  uncertain.  One  such  document  of 
dissent  and  help  is,  however,  extant,  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull. 
It  is  a  closely  written  argument  of  sixteen  pages,  signed  by  Adam  Blackman  and 
Thomas  Hanford,  "  in  the  name  and  with  the  consent "  of  the  two  churches  at 
Stratford  and  Norwalke,  respectively.  It  strenuously  maintains,  by  appeal  to 
early  Ecclesiastical  usage,  history,  and  scripture,  that  "  Saints  by  calling  or 
Believers  (made  visible  to  charitable  discern'  by  all  the  wayes   &   Rules  of 

Christ)  are  fitt  matter  for  a  Gospell  Church  and  no  other Or  this.  That 

all  such  &  only  such  are  to  be  received  members  into  Gospell  Churches,  as  doe 
before  the  Lord  &  his  people  profess  their  faith  and  repentance,  and  subjection 
to  Christ  in  all  his  ordinances,  and  do  not  blemish  their  profession  by  an 
ungospell-like  conversation."  The  position  on  the  other  points  proposed  by 
the  Court  can  be  easily  inferred. 

Adam  Blakeman  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Stratford  from  1640  to  his  death, 
in  1665.  Cotton  Mather  says  that  Mr.  Hooker  used  to  declare,  "If  I  might 
have  my  choice,  I  would  choose  to  live  and  die  under  Mr.  Blakeman's  min- 
istry." Blakeman  was,  like  Hooker,  of  Leicestershire,  and  they  may  have  been 
acquaintances  there.  He  made  his  will  March  i6th,  1665,  containing  an  interest- 
ing reference  to  the  controversy  of  the  times.  "  Item.  Because  many  of  God's 
servants  have  been  falsely  accused  concerning  the  judgement  of  the  kinglike 
power  of  Christ ;  though  I  have  cause  to  bewail  my  great  ignorance  and  weak- 
ness in  acting,  yet  I  do  and  hope  I  shall,  through  the  strength  of  Christ,  to  my 
dying  day  adhere  to  that  form  of  Church  Discipline  agreed  on  by  the  Rev. 
Elders  and  brethren  in  the  year  49,  now  in  print.  And  to  the  truth  of  God 
concerning  that  point,  left  on  record  by  that  famous  and  Rev.  servant  of  God, 
of  blessed  memory,  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  in  his  elaborate  work  called  '  The 
Survey  of  Church  Discipline^  to  which  most  in  all  the  churches  of  Christ  then 
gathered  in  this  colony  gave  their  consent  as  appears  in  the  Rev.  Author's 
epistle,  so  at  Milford,  New-Haven,  Guilford,  and  those  in  the  Bay,  who  could 
be  come  at  in  that  stress  of  time.  And,  I  being  one  who  in  the  name  of  our 
church,  subscribed  that  copy,  could  never  (through  the  grace  of  Christ)  see 
cause  to  receive  any  other  judgement,  nor  fall  from  those  principles  so  soundly 
backed  with  Scripture  and  arguments  which  none  yet  could  overturn." 

Thomas  Hanford  was  minister  at  Norwalk  from  1652  to  his  death,  in  1693. 


i66o-i679-]  DIVISION   OF   THE   CHURCH.  jqq 

This  was  an  explicit  notice  to  the  churches  that  the  con- 
clusions of  the  Synod  were  to  be  backed  up,  if  need  be,  by 
the  "order"  of  the  General  Court.  All  which  indicates  that 
while  the  government  favored  the  parish  or  "  Presbyterian  " 
way,  the  churches  were  slow  in  departing  from  the  principles 
on  which  they  were  founded.  The  leaven,  however,  was 
fermenting. 

It  is  at  this  point,  and  as  the  issue  of  all  this  line  of  ante- 
cedents, that  John  Davenport's  letter  lifts  the  curtain  on  the 
dramatic  spectacle  of  the  June  lecture-day  in  1666.  The 
water  made  ready.  "  Yong  M^"  Heynes"  preaching  and  pre- 
pared to  administer  the  rite  of  baptism  to  some  child  or 
children  of  parents  not  communicants.  Forbidden  to  pro- 
ceed by  his  senior  colleague,  Mr.  Whiting.  Old  Mr.  War- 
ham — converted  from  his  seven  years'  practice  of  the  usage 
at  Windsor""  —  now  attempting  to  testify  against  it,  but 
rudely  silenced  by  declarations  that  he  was  out  of  his  place. 
The  stormy  break-up  of  the  meeting.  The  challenge  for 
debate.  The  obvious  popularity  of  the  innovating  measures, 
and  "yong  M""  Heynes,"  who  represented  them. 

Up  to  this  time,  as  Mr.  Davenport  declares,  "  the  most  of 
the  churches  in  this  jurisdicon  [were]  professedly  against 
the  new  way  both  in  judgment  and  practice  upon  Gospel 
Grounds,  n.  Newhaven,  Milford,  Stratford,  Brandford,  Gill- 
ford,  Norwalke,  Stamford,  and  those  nearer  to  Hartford, 
n.  Farmington,  and  the  sounder  parte  of  Windsor,  together 
with  thier  Reverend  Pastor  M""  Warham,  and,  I  thinck,  M^ 
Fitch  and  his  church  also."  " 

Nor  did  the  Hartford  Church,  or  its  senior  Pastor,  cer- 
tainly, yield  immediately.     A  report  of  a  curious  interview, 


*°  Stiles'  Windsor,  p.  172. 
*i  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxx,  60. 


200  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1660-1679. 

in  which  Mr.  William  Pitkin  again  appears  urging  the  claims 
of  his  English  church-membership,  is  preserved  to  us  in  the 
writing  of  Mr.  Whiting. ■*"     It  is  as  follows  : 

"  1666,  Q^^f  [November]  22.  Joseph  Fitch,  Nicolas  Olm- 
sted, Jn°  Gilbert,  John  Stedman,  W'"  Pitkin  &  Edward 
Grannis,  came  to  speak  with  me,  Mr,  James  Richards,  James 
Steele,  John  Cole,  and  Andrew  Benton,  being  present,  at 
Mr.  Willys  his  house.  Mr.  Pitkin  in  the  name  of  the  rest 
before  mentioned,  told  me  that  they  did  desire  comunion 
with  the  church  of  Hartford  in  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ. 

"  My  answer  was  I  did  desire  to  know  upon  what  account 
they  desired  that  comunion,  whether  upon  account  of  any 
union  they  had  already  with  the  church  of  Hartford  or  an 
union  they  should  have  by  joining  to  it.  W™  Pitkin 
answered  they  did  desire  it  upon  account  of  a  union  they 
had  already  (being  in  covenant  or  church  members)  but  if 
anything  further  were  required  by  rule  they  would  attend  it. 
Whereunto  I  returned  answer  that  I  knew  no  such  union 
they  had  to  the  Church  of  Hartford  as  to  entitle  them  to 
comunion  in  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ,  but  however  that  I 
would  consider  of  their  motion  and  give  them  further  answer 
in  some  convenient  time." 

Probably  Mr.  Whiting  never  gave  a  favorable  answer. 
But  the  questions  raised  refused  to  be  quieted.  The  ever- 
ready  General  Court  interfered  again,  and  in  October,  1666, 
ordered  a  "  Synod  "  of  "  all  y«  Preacheing  Elders  and  Min- 
isters "  of  the  Colony,  together  with  four  ministers  from 
Massachusetts,  including  Rev.  Jonathan  Mitchell,  the  ac- 
knowledged leader  of  the  new  way  in  ecclesiastical  affairs,  to 
meet  in  Hartford  in  the  following  May."  The  Court  formu- 
lated seventeen  "Questions  to  be  disputed;"  "  and,  pending 


*^  Mss.  Rec.  Conn.  EccL,  i,  10.     Copied  by  C.  J.  Hoadly. 
43  Col.  Rec,  ii,  53-54. 

4*  A  few  of  the  Questions  will    suffice.     "  i.    Whether  federall    holines  or 
couen*  interest  be  not  y^  propper  grounde  of  Baptisme.     3.   Whether  the  adult 


1660-1679]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  2OI 

the  Synod's  meeting,  said,  "It  is  desired  by  this, Court  and 
solemnly  commended  to  y^  churches  and  people  in  this  Juris- 
diction, to  suspend  all  matters  controuersall  and  y^  practice 
of  them  not  formerly  receaued  and  practiced  in  y^  churches 
here  vntil  an  orderly  decision  be  giuen  by  y*^  Synod  in  May 
next."  But  before  May  came  around  the  Court  had  appar- 
ently heard  something  from  the  churches.  This  imposition 
of  a  clerical  "  Synod  "  on  them,  without  their  voice  in  its 
call,  was  something  they  were  not  yet  prepared  for.  The 
Court,  anyway,  saw  reason  to  alter  the  title  of  the  assembly 
it  had  summoned,  and  voted  "  to  stile  them  an  Assembly  of 
the  Ministers  of  this  Colony  called  together  by  the  Generall 
Court."  " 

The  Assembly  met  as  appointed,  but  adjourned  without 
debate  till  autumn.  It  never  met  again,  Mr.  Whiting,  Mr. 
Warham,  and  Mr.*  Hooker  of  Farmington,  opposers  of  the 
new  way  in  Congregationalism,  wrote  to  the  Court,  asking 
for  a  "  more  generall  convention  of  meet  persons  sent  from 
the  Churches  from  the  Massachusetts  &  oi'selves  ; "  "   Mr. 


seed  of  visible  belieuers,  not  cast  out,  be  not  true  members  and  the  subiects  of 
Church  watch.  4.  Whether  ministerial!  officers  are  not  as  truly  bound  to  bap- 
tize the  visible  disciples  of  X'  providentially  setled  amongst  them,  as  officially 
to  preach  the  Word.  9.  Whether  it  doth  not  belong  to  y"  body  of  a  Towne 
collectiuely,  taken  joyntly,  to  call  him  to  be  their  minister  whom  the  Church 
shal  choose  to  be  their  officer.     16.    Whether  a  Synod  haue  a  decisive  power." 

*5  Felt  suggests  (vol.  ii,  466)  that  this  alteration  of  "stile"  was  owing  to 
prejudice  against  the  title  of  Synod  because  of  association  with  the  Half-way 
Covenant  Synod  of  1662.  The  more  probable  reason  is  that  the  strict  Congre- 
gationalists  objected  to  a  "  Synod  "  called  by  State  authority,  in  which  the 
churches  had  no  voice ;  whose  findings  were  likely,  under  that  title,  to  be 
imposed  upon  them  by  the  same  power.  The  objection  to  the  call  of  a  Synod 
thus,  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  Massachusetts  churches,  came  near  being  fatal 
to  the  Cambridge  Synod  of  1648.  (See  Winthrop's  Jourjial,  ii,  329.)  Doubt- 
less strict  Congregationalists  objected,  also,  to  calling  anything  a  Synod  in 
which  there  were  not  lay  delegates,  and  discerned  in  a  merely  clerical  body, 
endued  with  ecclesiastical  authority,  something  of  a  Presbyterian  quality. 

*6  Col.  Rec,  ii,  70. 
26 


202  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

Bulckley  and  Mr.  Haynes,  friends  of  the  new  way,  wrote 
asking  that  the  meeting  already  called  might  go  on  as  first 
intended."  The  Court  seconded  the  suggestions  of  the 
former  petitioners  so  far  as  to  call  on  the  churches  to  send 
their  "ministers  to  joyne  in  councill  w^^'i  such  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts &  Plimouth  as  shall  be  appoynted."  "  The  scheme, 
however,  fell  through.  The  probability  seems  to  be  that  the 
views  of  the  Connecticut  churches  were  discerned  to  be  so 
adverse  to  the  parish  way,  and  the  Presbyterianizing  ten- 
dency to  put  the  decision  of  matters  into  clerical  hands  only, 
as  to  render  the  experiment  of  a  discussion  and  vote  upon 
the  subject  hazardous  to  the  success  of  the  new  departure. 
"  Measures  were  therefore  adopted  to  prevent  the  meeting 
and  result  of  the  assembly."  " 

The  agitation,  however,  continued.  By  the  spring  of  the 
following  year.  May  1668,  the  General  Court,  apparently  at 
last  despairing  of  settling  matters  by  "orders"  and  "dis- 
putes," designated  Rev.  Messrs.  James  Fitch,  Gershom 
Bulckley,  Joseph  Ehott,  and  Saml.  Wakeman  "  to  consider 
of  some  expedient  for  our  peace,  by  searching  out  the  rule 
and  thereby  cleareing  up  how  farre  the  churches  and  people 
may  walke  together  within  themselves  and  one  w'^  another  in 
the  fellowship  and  order  of  the  Gospel,  notwithstanding  some 
various  apprehensions  amongst  them  in  matters  of  discipline 
respecting  membership  and  baptisme  &c."  '"  This  was,  at 
last,  a  sensible  and   Christian   measure.     The  same  Court 


"  Trumbull,  i,  458. 

*"  Col.  Records,  ii,  70. 

*9  Trumbull,  i,  457.  See  also  pp.  456-459.  Bradstreet's  Journal  says, 
"  This  year  there  was  a  Synod  called  at  Hartford  to  discuss  some  points  con- 
cerning baptism  and  church  discipline ;  but  nothing  was  concluded,  the  Congre- 
gational party  [/.  e.,  the  adherents  of  the  old  way],  which  was  the  greatest,  vio- 
lently opposing  the  Presbyterian  [/.  e.,  the  advocates  of  the  new  way]. 

so  Col.  Rec,  ii,  84. 


i66o-i679-]  DIVISION  OF  THE  CHURCH.  203 

appointed  a  "  day  of  Humiliation,"  in  view  of  the  "  con- 
tinuance of  diuisions  in  seuerall  plantations  and  societies 
amongst  us." 

The  ministers  empowered  to  "  consider  some  expedient  of 
peace,"  made  "returne"  to  the  Court  in  May  1669;  and  the 
Court,  at  the  same  session,  passed  the  following  important 
resolve" — a  practical  repeal  of  the  order  of  March  1658, 
enacted  to  defeat  Elder  Goodwin's  "withdrawing"  party, 
and  which  forbade  separate  church  assemblies  : 

"  This  Courte  haueing  seriously  considered  the  great  divi- 
sions that  arise  amongst  us  about  matters  of  Church  Gouern- 
ment,  for  the  honor  of  God,  wellfare  of  the  Churches,  and 
preseruation  of  the  publique  peace  so  greatly  hazarded,  doe 
declare  that  whereas  the  Congregationall  Churches  in  these 
partes  for  the  generall  of  their  profession  and  practice  haue 
hitherto  been  approued,  we  can  doe  no  less  than  still  approue 
and  countenance  the  same  to  be  w^^out  disturbance  vntill 
better  light  in  an  orderly  way  doth  appeare ;  but  yet  foras- 
much as  sundry  persons  of  worth  for  prudence  and  piety 
amongst  us  are  otherwise  perswaded  (whose  wellfare  and 
peaceable  satisfaction  we  desire  to  accomadate)  This  Court 
doth  declare  that  all  such  persons  being  allso  approued 
according  to  lawe,  orthodox  and  sownd  in  the  fundamentalls 
of  Christian  religion  may  haue  allowances  of  their  perswa- 
sion  and  profession  in  church  wayes  or  assemblies  w'''out 
disturbance." 

"  Until  better  light  in  an  orderly  way  doth  appeare,"  this, 
as  Dr.  Bacon  remarks,""  is  "  particularly  significant."  It  inti- 
mates another  ecclesiastical  system,  not  the  original  one  of 
the  churches,  the  "system  of  all  national  churches,  and 
therefore  of  the  Presbyterian  party  in  the  Long  Parliament 
and  the  Westminster  assembly  "  as  "  looming  in  the  future  " ; 


^'  Ibid,  109. 

62  Contributions  to  Eccl.  Hist.,  p.  28. 


204  '^^^   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

"  a  system  under  which  the  local  church  as  a  covenanted 
brotherhood  of  souls  renewed  by  the  experience  of  God's 
grace,  was  to  be  merged  in  the  parish ;  and  all  persons  of 
good  moral  character  living  within  the  parochial  bounds, 
were  to  have,  as  in  England  or  Scotland,  the  privilege  of 
baptism  for  their  households,  and  of  access  to  the  Lord's 
table." '' 

The  immediate  effect  of  this  action  of  the  Court,  how- 
ever, was  to  open  a  way  of  escape  from  their  embarrassment 
to  the  minority  of  the  Hartford  Church. 

"  Yong  M""  Heynes  "  and  his  party  for  synodical  authority, 
the  parish  way,  and  "  large  baptisme  "  were  obviously  in  the 
ascendancy.  Whether  the  younger  Pastor  up  to  this  time 
had  actually  practiced  the  baptism  allowed  by  the  Clerical 
Assembly  of  1657  and  the  "  Synod"  of  1662,  and  for  which 
water  had  been  made  ready  in  the  Hartford  meeting-house 
in  1666,  is  perhaps  uncertain.  Very  likely  in  the  four  years' 
of  quarrel  and  the  growing  ascendency  of  "  his  partie  "  which 
had  followed,  he  had  done  so." 

The  question  might  be  more  doubtful  than  it  is — when  the 
attitude  of  his  senior  associate  on  that  memorable  June  lec- 
ture-day is  recalled — were  it  not  for  some  rather  surprising 
facts  shortly  to  be  noticed. 


^  Ibid,  p.  29. 

^*  Dr.  Trumbull's  statement  (vol.  i,  p.  471)  that  the  practice  of  "Owning  the 
Covenant,"  which  was  a  part  of  the  new  system  of  baptism,  was  "  introduced 
by  Mr.  Woodbridge  "  in  the  First  Church  in  Hartford  in  1696,  and  "does  not 
appear  to  have  obtained  in  the  churches  of  this  Colony  until  the  year  1696,"  is 
strangely  incorrect.  The  Windsor  Church  practiced  the  new  way  of  baptism 
for  some  years  immediately  folhjwing  the  Assembly  of  1657;  the  Second 
Church  of  Hartford  practiced  the  "  Owning  of  the  Covenant "  from  its  estab- 
lishment in  1670 ;  and  the  First  Church  had  probably  practiced  it  still  earlier 
than  the  Second.  The  records  of  the  First  Church  still  extant  (the  earlier  hav- 
ing been  lost)  begin  with  Mr,  Woodbridge's  ordination  in  1635,  when  the  sys- 
tem was  in  full,  and  doubtless  long-established  operation. 


1660-1679.]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  2O5 

Soon  after  the  passage  of  the  resolution  of  May  1669,  an 
ecclesiastical  Council  was  apparently  convened,  which  ad- 
vised a  separation  of  the  minority  from  the  Hartford  Church 
and  their  establishment  in  separate  church-estate."  In 
October  following,  the  General  Court  acted  ^' on  a  petition 
which  had  been  "  presented  by  Mr.  Whiting  &c.  for  a  dis- 
tinct walkeing  in  Congregational  Church  order  as  hath  been 
here  setled  according  to  Counsell  of  the  Elders,"  advising  "the 
Church  of  Hartford  to  take  some  effectuall  course  that  Mr. 
Whiting  &c.  may  practice  the  Congregationall  way  w"'out 
disturbance  either  from  preaching  or  practice  diuersly  to  their 
just  offence,  or  els  to  grant  their  loveing  consent  to*  their 
bretheren  to  walke  distinct,  according  to  such  their  Congrega- 
tionall principles,  which  this  Court  alowes  liberty  in  Hartford 
to  be  done.  But  if  both  these  be  refused  or  neglected  by  the 
Church,  then  these  bretheren  may  in  any  regular  way  attend 
to  release,  and  relieue  themselves  w*''out  offence  to  the  Court. 
In  the  vote  for  this  aboue  written  order  there  dissented 
fower  Assist'  &  fowerteen  Deputies." 

Whether  the  Church  consented  to  the  departure,  the  per- 
ishing of  the  records  forbids  determination.  But  on  the  22d 
of  February  following — 1670 — Rev.  Mr.  Whiting  and  thirty- 
one  members  of  the  Hartford  Church,  with  their  families, 
withdrew  and  formed  themselves,  by  the  advice  of  a  Council, 
into  a  distinct  Church." 


^^  Trumbull,  i,  p.  461.  The  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hartford  at  this 
time  of  the  division  into  two  ecclesiastical  establishments,  is  approximately 
to  be  inferred  from  the  list  of  freemen,  taken  in  October  of  this  year.  From 
this  list  it  appears  that  in  Hartford  there  were  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
freemen  ;  of  whom  fifty  were  on  the  north  side,  and  sixty-seven  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Little  River.     Col.  Rec,  ii,  pp.  518-19. 

5*^  Col.  Rec,  ii,  p.  120. 

^^  This,  of  course,  involved  the  institution  of  a  new  way  of  providing  for 
ministerial  and,  parish  expenses.     Up  to  this  time  the  vote  of  the  town  had 


206  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

They  aver  in  their  paper  "  read  before  the  messengers  of 
the  Churches  and  consented  to  by  ourselves "  that  "  the 
Congregational  way  (for  the  substance  of  it)  as  formerly  set- 
tled, professed  and  practiced,  under  the  guidance  of  the  first 
leaders  of  this  Church  of  Hartford  is,  the  way  of  Christ ;  " 
which  "way"  they  more  especially  indicate  in  the  "main 
heads  or  principles "  which  they  proceed  to  specify  ;  the 
most  significant  of  which  in  its  bearing  on  the  long  struggle 
through  which  they  had  passed  are  these  : 

"  I.  That  visible  saints  are  the  only  fit  matter,  and  con- 
federation the  form,  of  a  visible  church 

"  3.'  That  such  a  particular  church  being  organized,  or  hav- 
ing furnished  itself  with  those  officers  which  Christ  hath 
appointed,  hath  all  power  and  privileges  of  a  church 
belonging  to  it 

"  4.  That  the  power  of  guidance  or  leading,  belongs  only 
to  the  eldership,  and  the  power  of  judgment,  consent,   or 


been  taken  on  all  such  questions.  No  direct  legislative  authority  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  new  method  in  reference  to  this  separation  into  Societies  of  the 
Hartford  community,  appears  to  have  been  preserved.  But  on  p.  52  of  the 
Book  of  the  General  Laws  of  1672-3,  the  following  emendation  of  a  former  law 
concerning  Ministers^  Mayntena7ice,  was  doubtless  prompted  by  the  separation 
at  Hartford  :  "  This  fourt  Doe  order  that  all  those  who  are  or  ought  to  be 
taught  in  the  Word  in  the  several  Plantations  shall  be  respectively  called  to- 
gether once  in  each  year  to  consider  what  may  be  meet  maintainance  for  the 
ministry  of  that  Society  to  which  they  belong  and  to  conclude  the  same  ;  and 
whatever  sum  shall  be  agreed  upon  by  the  Major  part  of  the  Society,  the  par- 
ticular sums  assessed  upon  each  person  by  a  just  Rate  shall  be  collected  and 
Levied  as  other  Town  Rates ;  Provided  where  there  are  more  than  one  Assem- 
bly in  a  Town  they  shall  severally  meet  to  Consider  and  determine  as  afore- 
said, and  all  persons  shall  Contribute  to  one  or  both  of  those  Societies  within 
their  Township,  and  in  case  any  Society  shall  fail  of  allowing  a  suitable  main- 
tainance to  the  Minister  or  Ministry  of  their  Society,  upon  Information  or  Com- 
plaint made  thereof  to  the  next  County  Court  in  that  County  they  are  hereby 
Ordered  to  appoint  what  maintainance  shall  be  allowed  to  the  Minister,  and 
shall  Order  the  Selectmen  to  Assess  the  Inhabitants,  which  Assessment  shall 
be  levied  by  some  Officers  appointed  thereto,  as  other  Rates,  and  in  Wheat, 
Peas,  and  Indian  Corn,  a  third  of  each ;  Always  Provided  that  an  Honorable 
allowance  be  made  to  every  Minister  according  to  the  ability  of  the  place  or 
people."  • 


i66o-i679-]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  207 

privilege,  belongs  to  the  fraternity,  or  brethren  in  full  com- 
munion. 

This  is  sound  original  Congregationalism.  It  was  a 
timely  assertion  of  it.  And  it  indicates  very  distinctly  the 
opposition  of  those  who  drew  up  the  statement,  to  the  Pres- 
byterianizing  tendency  which  was,  in  Church  and  State 
alike,  now  so  strongly  emphasizing  synodical  authority  and 
the  parish-way.''     But  on  one  point  of  practice  which  had 


68  Trumbull,  i,  p.  462. 

59  The  new  Church  followed  its  declaration  of  principles  by  the  adoption  of 
the  following  Covenant,  which,  as  it  suggests  an  interesting  enquiry,  is  here 
quoted  in  full : 

"  Since  it  hath  pleased  God,  in  his  infinite  mercy,  to  manifest  himself  willing 
to  take  unworthy  sinners  near  unto  himself,  even  into  covenant  relation  to  and 
interest  in  him,  to  becoms  a  God  to  them  and  avouch  them  to  be  his  people, 
and  accordingly  to  command  and  encourage  them  to  give  up  themselves  and 
their  children  also  unto  him : 

"  We  do  therefore  this  day,  in  the  presence  of  God,  his  holy  angels,  and  this 
assembly,  avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah,  the  true  and  living  God,  even  God  the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  our  God,  and  give  up  ourselves 
and  ours  also  unto  him,  to  be  his  subjects  and  servants,  promising  through 
grace  and  strength  in  Christ,  (without  whom  we  can  do  nothing,)  to  walk  in 
professed  subjection  to  him  as  our  only  Lord  and  Lawgiver,  yielding  universal 
obedience  to  his  blessed  will,  according  to  what  discoveries  he  hath  made  or 
hereafter  shall  make,  of  the  same  to  us  ;  in  special,  that  we  will  seek  him  in  all 
his  holy  ordinances  according  to  the  rules  of  the  gospel,  submitting  to  his  gov- 
ernment in  this  particular  Church,  and  walking  together  therein  with  all  broth- 
erly love  and  mutual  watchfulness,  to  the  building  up  of  one  another  in  faith 
and  love  unto  his  praise  :  all  which  we  promise  to  perform,  the  Lord  helping 
us  through  his  grace  in  Jesus  Christ." 

Can  this  be  the  original  and  otherwise  missing  first  Covenant  of  the  Hart- 
ford Church  ?  The  subscribers  to  it  professed  their  intention  of  reverting  to 
the  Congregational  way  "  formerly  settled,  professed,  and  practiced  under  the 
guidance  of  the  first  leaders  of  this  Church  of  Hartford."  This,  in  their  view, 
required  a  restatement  of  Congregational  principles.  But  it  did  not  require 
the  writing  of  a  new  Covenant.  On  the  contrary,  if  the  Covenant  of  the 
founders  of  that  Church  were  still  known,  as  is  impossible  to  doubt,  it  would 
seem  to  be  the  most  natural  thing  to  adhere  'to  it.  The  suggestion,  therefore, 
seems  a  not  unlikely  one  that  the  first  Covenant  of  the  old  Church  may  be  pre- 
served through  the  new.  The  earliest  formula  preserved  on  the  documents  of 
the  First  Church  is  one  inscribed  by  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge  in  the  spring 
of  1695,  in  a  kind  of  memorandum  book  of  Church  matters  begun  by  him  ten 
years  previously,  and  is  drawn  up  especially  in  behalf  of  Half-way-Covenant 


268  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1660-1679. 

been  a  chief  issue  at  one  stage  of  the  contest,  and  which 
was  really  at  bottom  the  vital  question  in  it,  we  are  con- 
fronted by  what  seems  a  surprising  fact.  The  new  church 
which  went  off  from  the  old  as  the  representative  of  the 
pure  "  Congregationall  way,  as  formerly  settled,  professed, 
and  practiced,  under  the  guidance  of  the  first  leaders  of  the 
Church  of  Hartford,"  at  once  began  the  usage  of  Half-way- 
Covenant  baptism.  Thirty-six  "  children  of  the  Church,  or 
members  not  yet  in  full  communion,"  owned  the  Covenant, 
apparently  on  the  day  of  the  organization  of  the  Second 
Church  of  Hartford,  and  "  some  of  them  were  married  peo- 
ple, who  immediately  thereafter  brought  their  children  to  be 
baptized."  '" 

This  significantly  shows  two  things ;  first,  the  strength  of 
the  tide  for  the  larger  baptism  which  had  begun  to  run  so 
powerfully  that  even  its  former  opponents  no  longer  re- 
sisted ;  and,  second,  the  curious  way  in  which,  in  the  pro- 
gress of  a  controversy,  the  struggle  shifts  ground,  and  the 
real  issues  and  watchwords  change. 

The  original  issue  was  the  relation  to  the  church  of  those 
who,  having  been  baptized  in  infancy  or  in  England,  desired 
a  voice  in  church  action  and  a  participation  in  church  priv- 
ileges. It  came  to  be  a  question,  apparently,  of  relatively 
almost  theoretic  interest,  concerning  synodical  authority, 
and  of  rights  of  self-administration  ;  asserted,  too,  at  the 
same  moment  that  the  great  practical  concession  of  Half- 
way-Covenant baptism  rendered  the  assertion  comparatively 
nugatory.  There  is  no  evidence  that  the  reassertion  of  the 
"  Congregational    way   as   formerly    settled,    professed,    and 


assentors,  and  by  no  means  negatives  the  idea  that  another  one,  and  possibly 
the  one  adopted  by  the  Second  Church,  may  have  been,  even  then,  the  formula 
for  admission  to  full  communion. 

^''  Dr.  Parker's  Historical  Address,  pp.  32-35. 


i66o-i679-]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  209 

practiced,  under  the  guidance  of  the  first  leaders  of  the 
Church  of  Hartford,"  connected  as  it  was  with  the  adoption 
of  the  Half-way-Covenant  practice,  enabled  or  inclined  the 
Second  Church  to  present  any  lasting  opposition  to  the 
Presbyterianizing  tendency  of  things  in  Connecticut.  It  did 
serve,  however — as  did  the  action  of  a  majority  of  the 
Windsor  church,  where  it  was  the  large-Congregationalists 
instead  of  the  strict-Congregationalists  who  severed  them- 
selves from  the  old  church — to  give  momentary  name  to 
the  struggle,  as  a  struggle  between  Congregationahsm  and 
Presbyterianism.  Mr.  Bradstreet  of  New  London  records  in 
his  diary  for  the  winter  of  1669-70:  "This  winter  Hartford 
chh.  divided.  Mr.  Whyting  and  his  party  refusing  to  hold 
comunion  with  Mr.  Haynes  and  his  party  (on  account  of 
some  differences  in  Point  of  chh.  govern^)  Mr.  Haynes  and 
those  with  him  being  lookt  upon  as  Presbyterians."  ^'  And 
similar  divisions  of  sentiment  respecting  ministerial  and 
synodical  authority  and  the  parish  way,  existing  in  other 
churches  not  split  by  the  diversity,  are  plainly  indicated  in 
the  statement  made  ten  years  later,  in  "  An  Answer  to  the 
queries  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations,"  viz.:  "  Our 
people  in  this  Colony  are  some  of  them  strict  Congrega- 
tionall  men,  others  more  large  Congregational  men,  and  some 
moderate  Presbyterians.  And  take  the  Congregational  men 
of  both  sorts  they  are  the  greatest  part  of  the  people  in  the 
Colony."  ^^ 

Mr.  Whiting  continued  the  honored  pastor  of  the  Second 
Church  in  Hartford  till  his  death  on  September  8,    1689. 


^'  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Geti.  Reg.,  viii,  p.  327.  Mr.  Bradstreet  also  records  (ix,  p. 
45)  "  Mch.  18,  69-70.  My  Br.  Benjamin  Woodbridge  was  ordained  minister 
of  the  Presbyterian  party  (as  they  are  .iccounted)  of  Windsor." 

6^  July  5.  1680. 
27 


2IO  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1660-1679. 

Cotton  Mather  speaks  of  him  as  one  "who  will  never  be  for- 
gotten till  Connecticut  Colony  do  forget  itself  and  all  reli- 
gion." '' 

Left  in  sole  charge  of  the  Church,  Rev.  Mr.  Haynes  con- 
tinued its  Pastor  for  a  little  more  than  nine  years.  Appar- 
ently the  experience  of  the  Church  had  satisfied  it  with  the 
trial  of  the  dual  pastorate.  It  did  not  repeat  the  experi- 
ment for  a  hundred  and  ninety-two  years  ;  nor  then  with 
entire  success.  Committed  to  the  large-Congregational  way, 
inclined  to  synodical  supervision  and  clerical  authority,  the 
old  Church  swung  with  the  general  drift  of  the  tide  at  that 
day.  Little  is  known  of  its  special  experiences,  contempo- 
raneous documents  which  might  illustrate  its  history  having 
mostly  vanished.  " 


'■^He  received  a  grant  from  the  General  Court  of  "two  hundred  acres  of 
land  for  a  farme."  On  the  27th  of  August,  1675,  ^^  '^^'^  ^Y  t^e  Council  of 
Connecticut  "  nominated  and  desired  to  goe  forth  w"'  o''  army  to  be  a  minister 
unto  them  "  in  the  Indian  war  then  waging.  He  preached  the  Election  Ser- 
mon at  Hartford  May  13,  16S6,  "  The  Way  of  IsraePs  Welfare,"  etc.  Boston, 
1686,  pp.  (6),  44. 

He  had  fourteen  children,  seven  by  his  wife  Sybil  Collins  of  Cambridge, 
whom  he  married  about  1654,  and  seven  by  his  second  wife,  Phebe  Gregson, 
whom  he  married  in  1673.  Samuel,  the  seventh  child  of  his  first  wife,  born 
April  22,  1670,  was  the  first  minister  of  Windham.  Rev.  John  Whiting  was 
buried  near  his  associate  Mr.  Stone  in  the  old  burying-ground  back  of  the  First 
Church. 

^*  March  22,  1675,  ^  -Day  of  Fasting  and  prayer  was  kept  for  confession  of 
sin  and  renewal  of  Covenant.  The  Norwich  Church,  observing  this  day, 
adopted  (among  others)  these  rules  :  "  i.  All  males  who  are  eight  or  nine  years 
of  age,  shall  be  presented  before  the  Lord  in  his  Congregation  every  Lord's  Day 
to  be  catechised  till  they  be  about  thirteen  years  of  age.  2.  Those  about  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  both  male  and  female,  shall  frequent  the  meetings  appointed 
in  private  for  their  instruction,  while  they  continue  under  family  government, 
or  until  they  are  received  into  full  communion  in  the  church.  3.  Adults  who 
do  not  endeavor  to  take  hold  of  the  Covenant  shall  be  excommunicated." 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1676,  "The  townsmen  agreed  with  W™  Goodwin 
to  sweep  the  meeting  house  and  ring  the  Bell  Sabbaths  and  public  meetings  of 
the  Town  or  Side,  and  at  nine  of  the  Clock  at  night,  for  which  he  is  to  have 
seven  pounds  per  annum.  He  is  also  to  dig  graves  and  warn  publick  meetings 
as  the  Townsmen  shall  appoint  for  which  he  shall  be  paid  as  Robert  Sanford 
was."     Town  Records. 


i66o-i679.]  DIVISION   OF  THE   CHURCH.  21I 

About  1668,  or  two  years  before  the  separation  of  the 
Church,  Mr.  Haynes  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Richard 
Lord/'  And  on  the  24th  of  May,  1679,  at  the  still  early 
age  of  about  thirty-eight  he  died,  having  served  the  Church 
fifteen  years  ;  four  years  in  connection  with  Mr.  Whiting 
and  eleven  years  as  sole  Pastor. 

He  was  buried  beside  his  father,  the  honored  Governor  of 
the  Colony,  and  beside  Hooker  and  Stone,  the  ministers  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth. 


^5 Mr.  Haynes  had  four  children: 

1.  yo/in,hoTn  1669;  graduated  at  Harvard  College  1689;  Assistant  Judge, 
etc.;  died  November  27,  1713,  leaving  one  son,  John,  who  dying  in  1717  without 
issue,  extinguished  the  male  line  of  descent  and  the  name. 

2.  Mabel,  died  unmarried  about  1713.  She  was  (according  to  a  Church 
record  of  April  iS,  1708)  what  is  now  called  "unfortunate,"  but  on  confession 
"was  accepted." 

3.  Sarah,  married  in  1694  Rev,  James  Pierpont  of  New  Haven  as  his  sec- 
ond wife,  and  died  in  1697  leaving  one  daughter,  Abigail. 

4.  Mary. 

Mr.  Haynes  left  a  will  dated  February  26,  1676,  with  a  codicil  dated  May  23, 
1679.  The  whole  amount  of  his  estate,  which  was  large  for  those  days,  was 
;^2,28o  \-]s. 

s  items  were  : 

"  7  cows, 
2  old  oxen, 
2  young  oxen, 
6  young  steers, 
8  steeres  more, 
2  heifers, 

4  young  cattell, 

5  year  old  cattell, 
I  cart  horse, 

I  horse  more,  2  mares,  2  colts." 
"  Books  prized  by  Mr.  Gershom   Bulkly   and   Mr.  Jno.  Woodbridge,  ;^5i 
\2S.  i,d." 


Among  its  items  were  : 

"Homestead, 

-     ;^250 

Parcel  of  Meadow,   - 

200 

Land  in  South  Meadow,  - 

160 

Land  in  the  Ox  Pasture,  - 

SO 

Land  in  Farmington, 

800 

CHAPTER     IX 


ISAAC  FOSTER  AND  EARLY  CHURCH  USAGES. 

Sometime  late  in  1679  ^^  early  in  1680,  Isaac  Foster  was 
ordained  in  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Church  in  Hartford, 
left  vacant  by  the  untimely  death  of  Joseph  Haynes.  Dr. 
Hawes,  in  the  historical  sermon  preached  by  him  on  June 
26,  1836 — two  hundred  years  after  the  arrival  of  the  Church 
from  Cambridge  on  its  present  soil — says  of  Isaac  Foster : 
"  The  late  Dr.  Strong  remarks  of  him,  that  '  he  was  eminent 
for  piety  and  died  young.'  This  is  the  only  record  that 
remains  of  him,  and  though  brief,  it  is  honorable,  and  places 
him  among  the  just  whose  memory  is  blessed."  ' 

Fortunately  the  developments  of  Time  in  this  instance,  as 
so  often,  enable  us  to  discern,  a  little  more  distinctly  than 
that  brief  statement  of  his  piety  and  early  death  allowed 
Drs.  Strong  and  Hawes  to  do,  what  manner  of  man  he  was 
who  preceded  them  in  the  pastorate. 

Isaac  Foster  was  son  of  William  Foster,  a  ship  captain  of 
Charlestown,  Mass.  He  was  born,  probably  in  1652;  about 
which  date  also  his  mother,  Ann,  daughter  of  Wm.  Bracken- 
bury,  was  admitted  to  the  church  in  Charlestown."  Enter- 
ing college  in  1667,  he  graduated  at  Harvard  in  the  class  of 


'  Centennial  Discourse,  p.  14. 

2  Wm.  Foster,  the  father,  died  May  8,  1698,  aged  about  eighty;  his  wife,  Ann, 
was  admitted  to  Charlestown  Church,  Sept.  25,  1652,  and  died  Sept.  22,  17 14, 
aged  eighty-five. 


1679-1682.I  ISAAC   FOSTER.  213 

1671,  having  Samuel  Sewall,  afterward  Chief  Justice  of 
Massachusetts,  and  Samuel  Mather,  afterward  minister  at 
Windsor,  among  his  classmates. 

It  is  supposed  to  have  been  in  the  autumn  following  his 
bachelor's  degree  that  he,  with  his  father,  was  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Turks,  Oct.  21,  1671,  while  on  a  voyage  in  his  father's 
vessel,  the  Dolphin,  carrying  a  cargo  of  fish  to  Bilbao.  The 
prisoners  were  redeemed  in  November  1673.  The  event 
was  made  the  occasion  of  one  of  the  poetical  "  composures  " 
of  Michael  Wigglesworth ;  '  and  also  of  a  tribute  to  the 
efficaciousness  of  the  prayers  of  John  Eliot,  by  Cotton 
Mather,  who  records  that  "  Mr.  Eliot,  in  some  of  his  next 
prayers,  before  a  very  solemn  congregation,  very  broadly 
begged.  Heavenly  father  work  for  the  redemption  of  thy  poor 
servant  Foster,  and  if  the  prince  who  detains  him  will  not,  as 
they  say,  dismiss  him  as  long  as  Jiimself  lives.  Lord  we  pray 
thee  to  kill  that  cruel  prince ;  kill  him  and  glorify  thyself 
upon  him.  And  now  behold  the  answer  :  the  poor  captived 
gentleman  quickly  returns  to  us  ...  .  and  brings  us  news 
that  the  prince  which  bath  hitherto  held  him,  was  come  to 
an  untimely  deatJi,  by  which  means  he  was  now  set  at 
liberty."  ^  Ransomed  from  captivity,  Isaac  Foster  appears 
to  have  continued  some  years  in  the  vicinity  of  Charles- 
town,  and  in  May  1678,  "was  installed  ffellow"  of  Harvard 
College,  a  Fellowship  he  seems  to  have  held  about  two 
years.^ 

While  thus  occupied,  the  attention  of  the  church  of 
Charlestown  was  turned  toward  him,  and  Revs.  John  Sher- 
man and  Increase  Mather  recommended  him  to  the  com- 


^  Lossing's  Am.  Hist.  Rec,  i,  393. 

*  Magiialia,  i,  493. 

^  Sibley's  Harvard  Graduates,  ii,  p.  337. 


214  '^^^   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1679-1682. 

mittee  of  that  church  as  the  "fittest"  or  "suitablest  person" 
to  succeed  Mr.  Shepard  in  that  pastorate.".  During  the 
presence  of  the  Charlestown  committee  at  Cambridge  for 
the  purpose  of  negotiating  with  Mr.  Foster,  in  April  1678, 
Governor  Hinckley  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  "  came  from 
the  Church  at  Barnstable,  and  earnestly  urged  Mr.  Foster  to 
go  thither."  '  Gov.  Hinckley  wrote  two  letters  in  behalf  of 
the  Barnstable  church,  saying  : 

"  It  is  the  joint  desire  both  of  our  church  and  town  that 
you  would  please  give  us  a  visit  and  impart  some  spiritual 
gift  unto  us,  that  so,  having  some  taste  of  each  other,  both 
you  and  we  may  better  discern  what  the  mind  of  God  may 
be  respecting  the  motion  above  said,  and  accordingly  apply 
ourselves  ....  For  aught  I  know,  it  may,  all  things  con- 
sidered, be  as  comfortable  for  you  as  a  more  populous 
place. 

The  language  is  archaic ;  but  the  argument  has  the 
familiarity  of  a  committee-man's  of  to-day.  The  Charles- 
town  overture  fell  through,  apparently  by  reason  of  the 
people's  preference  for  the  son  of  their  former  minister,  the 
third  Thomas  Shepard  of  fragrant  memory  in  New  England 
history.  Why  the  Barnstable  negotiation  came  to  naught, 
does  not  appear. 

The  next  passage  in  Mr.  Foster's  life  brings  him  nearer 
to  Hartford.  A  long  quarrel  in  the  church  at  Windsor, 
similar  to  that  which  divided  the  Church  at  Hartford,  was, 
in  the  winter  of  1678-9,  in  hopeful  process  of  settlement. 
On  the  14th  of  January  1679,  the  town  voted  to  apply  to 
the  "  Rev'*  Council,"  whose  advice  had  been  largely  effica- 
cious in  composing  the  difficulties,  for  assistance  in  procur- 


^  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxi,  256. 
"^  Ibid,  xxxvi,  13. 
8  Ibid,  pp.  14-16. 


1679-1682.]  ISAAC   FOSTER.  21 5 

ing  a  minister."  The  Council  recommended  Rev.  Samuel 
Mather  and  Rev.  Isaac  Foster  as  suitable  candidates.  The 
congregation,  by  a  majority  vote,  Jan.  27,  1679,  agreed  upon 
this  recommendation  to  obtain  "  the  said  Mr.  Foster,  pro- 
vided it  appears  by  sufficient  information  from  such  Hon''''^ 
and  Rev''  Gent'"  in  the  Massachusetts  to  whom  we  shall 
apply  by  a  messenger,  that  he  is  not  only  Congregationally 
persuaded,  but  otherwise  accomplished  to  carry  on  the  work 
of  Christ  amongst  us."  '" 

To  get  this  "  sufficient  information  "  as  to  how  Mr.  Foster 
stood  on  the  Congregational  or  Presbyterial  issue,  Mr,  Whit- 
ing, of  the  Second  Church  of  Hartford,  one  of  the  Council 
in  the  case,  wrote  a  letter  to  Increase  Mather  of  Boston, 
to  which  letter  John  Allyn  "  added  a  postcript,  bearing  date 
February  27,  1679,     In  the  letter  Mr.  Whiting  says  :  '" 

"  The  two  congregations  at  Windsor,  having  mutually  in- 
gaged  themselves  to  submitt  to  the  advice  of  a  Councill,  .  .  . 
they  are  accordingly  advised  to  a  re-union  and  walk  in  the 
Congregationall  way  according  to  Synods  48  and  62."'  ...  . 
The  Councill  (under  whose  guidance  the  matter  3'et  remains) 


^  Stiles'  Windsor,  p.  184. 

10  Ibid,  p.  1S5. 

'^  John  Allyn,  of  Windsor  and  Hartford,  was  one  of  the  most  important  per- 
sons of  the  Colony.  He  was  son  of  Matthew  Allyn  of  Windsor ;  was  born  in 
England  ;  was  Deputy  in  the  General  Court  in  1661  and  1662 ;  Magistrate  and 
Secretary  in  1663-1665  ;  and  from  1667  to  1693,  Secretary  of  the  Colony,  occu- 
pying besides  many  public  trusts.  His  handwriting  is  visible  everywhere  in 
the  documents  of  the  period — in  Town,  Colonial,  Probate,  Religious  Society 
records.  One  wonders  at  what  must  have  been  his  marvelous  industry.  He 
married  Nov.  19,  1651,  Anne,  daughter  of  Henry  Smith  of  Wethersfield,  and 
died  Nov.  6,  1696.  He  sleeps  under  a  eulogistically  inscribed  monument, 
which,  however,  gives  him  none  too  high  a  title  to  remembrance,  in  the  Old 
Burying  Ground. 

'•*  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxxviii,  463-464.  . 

"^  It  is  significant  of  the  general  yielding  of  contest  on  the  Half-way-Cove- 
nant baptism  question,  that  the  Council,  represented  in  this  letter  by  Mr.  Whit- 
ing, appeals  as  to  a  standard  of  orthodoxy,  to  the  Half-way-Covenant  Synod  of 
1662,  whose  conclusions  Mr.  Whiting,  in  1666,  had  so  vigorously  opposed. 


2i6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1679-1682. 

.  .  desires  that  you  would  be  pleased  (with  the  Rev''  M'' 
Oakes  to  whom  I  have  also  written  to  that  end)  to  intimate 
in  a  few  words  whither  M""  ffoster  be  from  ingagement, 
and  then  how  quahfied  in  respect  of  godliness  and  learning, 
.  .  .  ,  and  particularly  what  his  judgment  is  in  respect  of 
church  order:  whether  indeed  declaredly  Congregationall, 
that  being  of  considerable  weight  to  the  settlement  of  that 
people,  as  well  as  comfort  of  their  neighbors." 

To  this  letter  of  Mr.  Whiting's,  Increase  Mather  replied 
March  10,  1679:'* 

"Rev.  &  Dear  Sir  :  I  received  your  Ire  (with  Capt.  Allyn's 
name  also  subscribed)  wherein  you  desire  information  con- 
cerning M''  Isaac  Foster.  I  beleeve  hee  is  truly  godly.  I 
know  that  hee  is  of  good  parts  both  nat'  &  acquired,  &  indeed 
morepsed  in  preaching  than  most  I  have  known  of  his  stand- 
ing. As  for  his  judg'  respecting  church  order  I  have  not 
heard  him  fully  declare  himself e.  When  he  joyned  the 
church  in  Charlestown  "he  ...  .  that  he  was  not  satisfyed 
in  that  practice  of  imposing  .  .  .  respecting  the  work  of 
grace,  upon  such  as  they  admitted  to  full  comunion  ;  when 
some  here  regarded  him  to  be  a  Presbyterian.  This  day  hee 
was  with  me  in  my  study.  I  desired  him  to  tell  me  playnly 
what  his  notions  were  as  to  matters  referring  to  church  govt. 
His  answer  was  that  he  believed  he  knew  the  reason  of  my 
proposal,  for  ...  .  had  acquainted  him  with  what  yourself 
had  written  to  Mr.  Oakes  &  me,  &  upon  that  account  he 
was  not  so  free  to  express  himselfe ;  onely  s'^  that  he  had 
never  upon  any  occasion  declared  against  the  way  Congrega- 
tional. To  be  sure  he  is  as  large  respecting  the  subject  of 
Baptisme  as  the  Synod  in  62.  You  cannot  expect  that  Mr. 
O.  &  myselfe  (being  members  of  the  Corporation)  shld  be 
forward  in  removing  any  of  the  Fellows  from  the  Colledge, 
that  are  desirable  ;  of  which  nubr  Mr.  Foster  is  one.  And  I 
question  whether  his  friends  will  be  willing  that  hee  shd  goe 


1*  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxxviii,  193. 
15  Oct.  28,  1677. 


1679-1682.]  ISAAC    FOSTER.  217 

SO  far  as  Windsor  is  from  these  pts.  Yet  if  you  see  cause 
to  promote  an  invitation  that  way,  I  shall  not  discourage 
you." 

From  all  which,  it  appears  that  the  art  of  finding  out  how 
a  man  stands  on  the  main  ecclesiastical  question  of  the  time, 
has  not  made  much  progress  since  1679.  M^-  Isaac  Foster 
had  all  the  wise  caution  of  a  modern  candidate  for  a  pulpit 
in  a  pretty  evenly  divided  community ;  yet  appears  on  the 
whole  to  have  belonged  on  that  side  of  the  rather  wavy  and 
tenuous  line  which  divided  the  ecclesiastical  parties  of  the 
day,  called  the  "large"  or  Presbyterian  side. 

On  April  loth  the  Council,  over  the  hands  of  John  Allyn, 
James  Richards,  Samuel  Hooker  and  John  Whiting,  reported'' 
to  the  Windsor  committee,  their  favorable  opinions  on  the 
whole  respecting  Mr.  Foster;  but  confessing  to  "a  doubtful- 
ness still  abiding  concerning  his  persuasion  in  point  of 
church  order  ;  "  and  advising  the  sending  of  two  men,  Capt. 
Newberry  and  John  Loomis,  to  Cambridge  to  interview  Mr. 
Foster  more  carefully,  and  "in  case  they  can  obtain  so  much 
from  him  as  shall  capacitate  them  to  assert  that  he  is  congre- 
gationally  persuaded  according  [to  the]  Synod  [s]  [of]  '48 
and  '62,"  that  they  invite  him  ;  "otherwise  not  to  meddle." 
Four  days  after,  the  town  accepted  the  Council's  proposition, 
appointed  the  messengers,  and  agreed  to  give  Mr.  Foster 
seventy  pounds  a  year  if  he  came."  The  messengers  went 
to  Cambridge  and  returned  with  a  favorable  account  of  Mr. 
Foster's  "  persuasions."  Whereupon  the  congregation  invited 
him  to  come  to  Windsor  on  trial,  which  he  did,  and  with  so 
manifest  "satisfaction  of  his  parts,  ability  and  persuasion," 
that  they  not  only  tendered  him   a  "unanimous   call,"  but 


"^  Stiles'  Windsor,  p.  1S5. 
1"  Ibid,  p.  186. 
28 


2i8  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1679-1682. 

voted,  instead  of  seventy,  to  give  him  a  hundred  pounds  a 
year,  and  sent  Daniel  Clark  back  with  "  Mr.  Foster  to  the 
Bay"  to  "further  his  return  again,"'*  This  seemed  to  promise 
a  very  auspicious  issue  to  Mr.  Foster's  Windsor  candidacy, 
under  the  patronage  of  the  ecclesiastical  Council.  But  the 
matter  fell  through.     Just  why  is  unknown. 

A  curious  coincidence  of  facts  may  have  had  some  untrace- 
able influence.  A  letter  is  extant,'"  bearing  date  May  28, 
1679,  while  the  Windsor  matter  was  still  pending,  written 
by  Rev.  Samuel  Hooker  of  Farmington  to  Increase  Mather, 
speaking  hopefully  of  Mr.  Foster's  ability  to  bring  the 
Windsor  people  to  "  Peace  according  to  Truth;"  and  ending 
with  the  statement,  "I  suppose  you  will  heare  by  better 
hands  of  the  great  breach  made  upon  Hartford  by  the 
death  of  Mr.  Haines,  who  departed  the  24  of  this  instant." 
On  the  back  of  this  letter  is  endorsed  in  the  hand  of  Increase 
Mather,  without  date,  the  following  memorandum : 

"  Having  discoursed  with  Mr.  Foster  upon  his  invitation 
from  the  Congregation  at  Windsor  &  finding  that  his  spirit 
....  is  altogether  averse  fro  a  closure  with  that  motion 
wee  dare  not  advise  him  to  accept  thereof,  as  concieving  his 
call  is  not  clear."  Signed  by  Urian  Oakes,  Sam.  Nowell, 
I.  M.  [Increase  Mather],  Saml.  Terry,  Thomas  Graves. 

It  seems  not  improbable  that  the  candidature  of  Mr.  Foster, 
having  been  in  a  manner  under  the  patronage  of  the  stricter 
Congregational  party — so  far  as  significance  lay  in  the  desti- 
nation— may  have  been  not  altogether  acceptable  to  a  man 
whose  views  at  his  church-membership  had  led  to  his  being 
thought  a  "  Presbyterian  ;  "  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  the 
vacancy  at  the  First  Church  at  Hartford  by  the  death  of  a 
Presbyterially  inclined  minister  may  have  prompted  overtures 


^^Ibid,^.  186. 

19  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxxviii,  339. 


1679-1682.]  ISAAC   FOSTER.  219 

to  him  which  had  their  influence  in  negativing  his  Windsor 
call.  At  all  events  to  Windsor  he  did  not  go,  and  to  Hart- 
ford not  many  months  after  he  came;  and  Mr.  Whiting, 
who  had  been  anxious  about  his  ecclesiastical  proclivities, 
even  as  a  "neighbor"  six  miles  off,  had  opportunity  to  study 
them,  as  an  associate  minister,  in  Hartford  town.  But  the 
whole  process  of  his  coming,  and  the  whole  story  of  his  min- 
istry while  here,  has  sustained  the  same  eclipse  which  ob- 
scures so  much  beside,  in  the  early  history  of  the  First 
Church, 

Some  time  in  1680,  Mr.  Foster  married  Mehitable  [or 
Mabel]  Willys,  the  widow"  of  his  Charlestown  friend.  Rev. 
Daniel  Russell,  granddaughter  of  Governor  George  Wyllys 
[or  Willis]  of  Hartford,  and  niece  of  Rev.  Joseph  Haynes, 
Mr.  Foster's  predecessor  in  the  First  Church  pastorate. 
He  had  one  child,  a  daughter,  Ann  Foster,  who,  growing 
to  womanhood,  was  admitted  to  full  communion  February  5, 
1699,  and  the  same  year  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Buckingham  of  the  Second  Church.'"" 

The  General  Court  granted  Mr.  Foster  in  168 1,  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land ;  which  were  apparently  never  located  till 
laid  out  to  his  heirs  in  1703,  in  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Thompson,  and  confirmed,  three  years  later,  to  Rev.  Thomas 
Buckingham  and  his  wife  Ann,  Mr.  Foster's  daughter  and 
heir." 


2"  She  was  married  December  14, 1699.  After  Rev.  Mr.  Buckingham's  death  in 
1731,  his  widow  married  Rev.  Wm.  Burnham  of  Kensington,  who  died  in  1750, 
leaving  her  again  a  widow.  In  her  will,  dated  August  23,  1764,  when  she  must 
have  been  upward  of  80  years  of  age,  she  gave  her  "  large  silver  tankard  for 
the  use  of  the  North  [or  First]  Church  forever."  This  tankard  the  Church 
sold  in  1803  for  $30.55.  She,  also,  in  her  will  manumitted  five  slaves,  Cato, 
Paul,  Prince,  Zippora,  and  Nanny,  making  them  bequests  of  land  and  money. 
Previous  to  her  death,  she  had  by  deed,  given  her  house  and  homestead  to  the 
Second  Church. 

-'  Col.  Records,  iii,  pp.  92-93. 


220  THE  FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1679-16S2. 

Mr.  Foster  died  in  one  of  those  epidemical  sicknesses 
with  which  early  Hartford  seems  to  have  been  often  afflicted. 
Bradstreet  records  in  his  journal,  under  date  of  August  21, 
1682,  "  M'"  Isaac  Forstur,  pastor  of  y''  old  chh.  at  Hartford 
dyed.  He  was  aged  about  30,  a  man  of  good  Abilityes.  His 
death  has  made  such  a  breach  y'  it  will  not  easily  be  made 
up."  "  And  his  co-laborer  in  the  Hartford  field,  Mr.  Whit- 
ing of  the  Second  Church,  writes  in  a  letter  to  Increase 
Mather : 

"I  thought  myself  necessitated  to  hasten,  having  left  some 
sickness  begun  here,  which  since  hath  grown  to  a  great 
hight.  Most  families  visited,  many  sick  and  weake  and  some 
sleep  (about  9  or  10  persons  in  our  town)  whereof  Mr.  Fos- 
ter (as  you  have  heard)  is  one,  a  surprising  and  (circum- 
stances considered)  very  awful  stroake  to  us.'"' 

The  young  Pastor  lies  with  his  predecessors  ;  his  slab 
recording  at  once  his  own  burial-place  and  that  of  his 
successor  ;  a  successor  who  took  not  only  his  office,  but 
married  his  widow,  and  so  he  vanished  from  among  men.''* 

In  the  interregnum  between  the  death  of  Mr.  Foster  and 


^2  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Reg.,  viii,  p.  332. 
"^^Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxxviii,  p.  465. 

-^  Mr.  Foster  left  no  will.     The  inventory   of  his  estate  was  made  to  the 
Court  February  12,  1683.     The  whole  amount  was  £\,S07  15^.4^/. 
Among  the  items  mentioned  are  : 

Half  the  farm  at  Cambridge,  ....     ^^500 

A  negroe  called  Catoe,  -  .  -  .  -  22 

House  and  Lott,         ......         200 

A  farm  at  Hoccanum,  .....         200 

A  Viall  and  Cithern,  .....  2 

In  connection  with  this  item  of  Mr.  Foster's  estate,  which  inventories  "  A 
negroe  called  Catoe,"  it  may  be  recorded  that  in  the  answer  made  in  1680  to 
the  questions  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  it  was  said  by  Governor 
Leet :  "  For  Blacks  there  comes  sometimes  3  or  4  in  a  year  from  Barbadoes, 
and  they  are  sold  usually  at  the  rate  of  ;/^22  a  piece,  sometimes  more  some- 
times less,  according  as  men  can  agree  with  the  masters  of  vessells,  or  Mer- 
chants that  bring  them  thither.  But  few  Blacks  born,  and  but  two  Blacks 
christened  as  we  know  of." 


1679-1682.]  ISAAC   FOSTER.  221 

the  installation  of  his  successor,  the  Church  of  Hartford  was 
the  recipient  of  a  gift  of  a  house  and  several  parcels  of  land 
"  to  belong  to  the  sayd  Church  and  the  ministry  thereoff  as  a 
parsonage  Land  forever."  The  giver  was  John  HoUoway, 
who  describes  himself  as  an  "  unworthy  member  ;  "  and  who 
was  moved  to  this  act  by  the  "Honour  and  Respect"  he  had 
to  the  Church,  and  the  consideration  that  he  had  "  no  Rela- 
tions in  this  Country."  '' 


25  Mr.  John  Holloway,  whose  "deede  of  guift,"  dated  November  14,  1682,  is 
signed  by  "/lis  X  mark,"  died  October  18,  1684  ;  after  which  the  accounts  of 
the  rental  of  the  land  given  by  him  appear  many  years  on  the  Society  records. 
The  memorandum  of  the  gift  on  the  record-book  is  as  follows : 

"  I.  The  first  parcell  about  one  acre  situate  in  Harttford  abutting  uppon 
Obadiah  Spencers  Land  on  the  West  and  uppon  Stephen  Kelseys  Land  on  the 
North  &  uppon  the  hyway  South  and  East  uppon  which  his  House  &  Barn 
stands."  [This  is  the  lot  on  the  angle  of  separation  of  Windsor  and  North 
Main  streets.  The  property  was  let  to  Texell  Ensworth  yearly  from  1685  to 
1701,  at  a  rental  varying  from  £l  to  £s^  10.  Ebenezer  Spencer  rented  it  from 
1701  to  1704.  Obadiah  Spencer,  Jr.,  from  1704  to  1705.  Sergt.  Nathaniel 
Goodwin,  Sr.,  from  1706  to  1712,  and  John  Barnard  from  1713  to  1729,  when 
the  Society's  accounts  were  continued  in  some  volume  now  lost.  On  the  2d 
day  of  May,  1774,  the  Society  by  a  committee,  leased  this  property  for  900 
years  to  Jonathan  Wadsworth  for  ;^I4I  15J.  and  an  annual  rental  of  "  one  wheat 
corn  on  the  first  Monday  of  January."] 

"  2.  One  parcell  off  meadow  Land  uppon  the  East  side  off  Connecticut  River 
in  Harttford  Containing  eight  acres  abbutting  uppon  the  great  River  uppon  the 
west."     [This  land  was  let  for  many  years  to  Roger  Pitkin  at  ^4  i6i-.  a  year.] 

"  3.  One  parcell  in  the  pine  ffielde  containing  Three  acres  be  itt  more  or  Less 
abutting  uppon  a  hyway  uppon  the  South  and  North  and  uppon  W.  Merrells  his 
Land  upon  the  east  &  uppon  Joseph  or  John  Colleyers  Land  uppon  the  West. 
[This  land  was  leased  for  999  years  on  January  19,  1759,  to  Caleb  Turner  for 
;^I5  and  an  annual  rental  of  one  silver  penny.  Hartford  Town  Deeds,  vol.  x, 
p.  588.] 

"4.  One  parcell  in  the  Little  ox  pasture  Containing  By  estimation  five  acres 
be  it  more  or  Less  Abutting  uppon  Mr.  Richard  Lord  his  Land  and  uppon.  .  .  ." 

"  5.  One  parcell  on  the  west  side  Connecticut  River  Called  the  Long  hill 
Lotts ;  Containing  By  estimation  ffive  acres  be  it  more  or  Less  abutting 
upon  .  .  .  ." 

Besides  these  "parcells"  of  land  given  by  John  Holloway,  the  same  page  of 
the  Records  says  :     "  Allso  the  ffirst  Church  in  Hartford  haue, 

"  6.  One  parcell  off  Lande  in  the  South  meadow  Containing  ffive  acres  be  it 
more  or  Less  that  John  &  Joseph  Skinner  have  had  uppon  Rent  many  years 
abutting  uppon  .  .  .  ." 


222  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1679-1682. 

Very  near  this  time,  also,  the  Church  had  several  articles 
of  Communion  furniture,  apparently  memorial  gifts,  as 
appears  by  the  following  entries  in  the  records  : 

"  Hartford  Church  hath  at  Mrs  Mary  Gilberts  left  by  the 
deacons  for  the  Churches  use  Power  pewter  dishes  marked 
each  of  them  with  these  letters  ^h.'^c'^' 

"&  Three  Flagon  Marked  H.  C.  &  one  Table  cloath  Marked 
\^a'  &  One  pewter  Bason  used  for  Baptism  Left  with  Wil- 
liam Goodwin,  for  the  churches  vse  March  13th,  i68|." 

"In  the  yeare  1700  Mrs  Mary  gilbert  gaue  one  Puter 
flflagon  to  the  fifirst  Church  in  Harttford." 

Here,  in  connection  with  the  brief  but  apparently  happy 
ministry  of  Mr.  Poster,  it  may  be  as  well  as  anywhere  else, 
to  glance  at  some  early  New  England  usages,  most  of  which 
prevailed,  doubtless,  in  the  Hartford  Church  as  in  the  churches 
generally. 

Public  services  on  the  Lord's  day  began  about  9  o'clock. 
Congregations  were  called  to  the  meeting  house  by  the 
beating  of  a  drum,  the  blowing  of  a  conch-shell  or  a  horn, 
the  display  of  a  flag,  or,  if  the  community  were  so  fortunate 
as  to   have  a  bell,  by  the  "  wringing  of  a  bell."  '■^'^     Hartford 


"  7.  One  parcell  off  Land  more  in  the  Long  meadow  Containing  By  estima- 
tion fower  acres  &  a  halfe  which  georg  Sexton  hath  uppon  Rent  many  yeares 
abutting  upon  .  .  .  ." 

"8.  The  ffirst  Church  in  Harttford  haue  an  interest  or  partt  of  a  well  In 
the  hyway  which  hee,  sd  Holloway,  helped  to  make  and  since  his  death  the 
sayd  Churches  Tennants  have  used  the  same  that  Lived  in  the  Churches 
House  that  was  John  Holloways  and  the  Church  payed  Tyxhall  Ensworth 
there  ffirst  Tennant  for  helpe  repayring  sayd  well." 

26 New  Haven  had  a  "Drum"  for  this  purpose  as  late  as  1662  (See  Daven- 
port's letter  to  Winthrop  of  that  date) ;  Norwalk  had  a  drum  in  1678  as 
appears  by  vote  of  town-meeting  in  February  :  "  Robbart  Stuard  ingages  y'  his 
Son  James  shall  beate  the  Drumb  on  the  Sabbath  and  other  ocations;  is  to 
have  it  for  that  cervice;"  a  "drum"  was  used  in  Cambridge  in  1636  (See  John- 
son's Wonder  Workhtg  Providence,  b.  i,  c.  43) ;  probably  after  the  removal  to 
Hartford  of  a  bell  which  had  been  employed  previously  as  early  as  1632  (Paige's 
Cambridge,  p.  17) ;  Hadley  had  a  conch-shell  in  1749,  and  Montague  in  1759-60 
(See  Dexter's  Congregationalism  in  Literature,  p.  452,  note) ;  Haverhill  in  1652 


1679-1682.]  EARLY   CHURCH   USAGES.  223 

Church  had  a  bell  as  early  as  1641,  and  in  all  probability 
from  the  first',  it  being  with  little  doubt  a  part  of  the  trans- 
ported establishment  from  Cambridge. 

Families  generally  divided  at  the  church  door;  women 
and  men  separating  to  different  sides  of  the  house,  and  boys, 
to  certain  specified  seats  in  the  gallery  or  below,  where  an 
appointed  functionary  was  employed,  sometimes  with  a  staff, 
to  keep  them  in  order. 

Assembled  in  the  meeting  house — which  in  the  coldest 
weather  had  no  appliances  for  warmth — the  services  began 
with  a  "solemn  prayer  continuing  about  a  quarter  of  an 
houre.""  It  is  unnecessary  to  remark  that  all  prayer  in 
New  England  worship  was  "unstinted"  or  extemporaneous. 
"Stinted  prayers"  were  one  of  the  chief  things,  to  escape 
from  which  the  fathers  came  out  of  "  Babylon."  But  it  is 
a  thing  worthy  of  more  particular  observation,  how  absolutely 
all  memory  of  the  liturgica!  service  of  the  old  home  land 
seems  to  have  perished  from  the  minds  of  those  who  came 
this  side  the  water.  The  Prayer  Book  is  the  rarest  of 
volumes  in  the  contemporary  libraries  of  the  New  England 
founders.  Its  expressions  and  phrases,  which  must  have 
been  a  part  of  the  very  furnishing  of  their  minds  in  child- 
hood, are  looked  for  in  vain  in  their  sermons,  diaries,  letters, 
or  recorded  sayings.  They  had  left  it  utterly  behind.  The 
new,  large  liberty  of  "free  prayer"  was  embraced  by  them 
with  passionate  intensity.     They  found  it  suited  to  the  vary- 

u-^ed  a  horn  ;  Sunderland  in  1720  had  a  "  flagge  ;  "  and  Hartford  employed  a 
"flagg"  in  1726,  at  a  time  when  the  bell  was  broken;  the  Society  voting  that 
"  Mr.  John  Edwards  at  the  charge  of  the  Society  purchase  some  Suitable  Red 
bunting  for  a  flagg  to  be  set  up  on  the  State  house  to  direct  for  metting  vpon 
the  publick  worship  of  God."  The  bell  was  broken  in  1725  and  recast  at  the 
joint  expense  of  the  two  Societies  in  1727. 
"^"^  Lechf  ord,  Plaine  Dealing,  p.  45. 


224  ^^^   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1679-1682. 

ing  necessities  of  their  changeful,  and  oftentimes  exigent 
circumstances,  as  no  possible  liturgy  could  be. 

Prayer  ended,  the  Teacher — or  the  Pastor,  where  the 
church  had  but  one  preaching  officer — then  read  a  passage 
of  scripture,  with  expository  comments.  Mere  reading, 
without  exposition  or  "common  placing"  as  it  was  called, 
was  not  looked  upon  with  favor,  in  the  early  New  England 
churches.^^ 

After  the  scripture  reading,  "a  Psalm  usually  succeeds. 
In  some  the  Assembly  being  furnished  with  Psalm-books, 
they  sing  without  the  stop  of  Reading  between  every  Line. 
But  ordinarily  the  Psalm  is  read  line  after  line  by  him  whom 
the  Pastor  desires  to  do  that  Service ;  and  the  people  gener- 
ally sing  in  such  grave  Tunes  as  are  most  usual  in  the 
Churches  of  our  nation."  "^  The  singing  was,  for  the  most  part, 
more  devout  than  melodious.  Mather  is  able  only  to  say  of 
it,  as  late  as  1727,  when  musical  affairs  in  Massachusetts  had 
already  begun  greatly  to  improve:  "  It  has  been  commended 
by  Strangers  as  generally  not  tvorse  than  what  is  in  many 
other  parts  of  the  World."  ^"  The  great  source  of  the  musical 
trouble,  beside  the  neglect  of  all  definite  instruction,  was  the 
loss  of  musical  notation,  caused  by  the  substitution  of  the 


^'^By  Cotton  Mather's  time  {Ratio  DiciplincE,  p.  67)  the  practice  of  reading 
without  necessarily  commenting,  had  so  far  obtained  footing  as  to  enable  him 
to  say  "  there  is  perfect  Charity  "  respecting  it ;  and  to  "  put  the  Term  of  dumb 
Reading^''  on  it,  is  "esteemed  improper."  The  usage  was  one  of  slow  growth, 
however,  and  against  much  disapproval.  The  General  Association  of  Connec- 
ticut voted,  in  June,  1765,  in  favor  of  "the  Decency  and  Propriety  of  making 
the  Public  reading  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  a  part  of  the  Public  worship  in  our 
churches,"  and  recommended  "  to  the  several  associations  to  promote  said  prac- 
tice among  the  several  Chhs."  But  as  late  as  1810,  the  Council  of  Litchfield 
South  Consociation  felt  called  on  to  pass  the  following  vote  :  '"  That  it  is  expe- 
dient that  a  portion  of  the  holy  Scriptures  be  read  every  Sabbath  in  our  congre- 
gations."    Manual,  1855,  p.  43. 

29  Ratio  DiciplincE,  p.  52. 

3V<^/</,  p.  54. 


1679-1682.]  EARLY   CHURCH   USAGES.  225 

Bay  Psalm  Book — which  was  first  pubhshed  in  1640, 
containing  no  tunes — for  Ainsworth's,  or  Sternhold  and 
Hopkins'  versions,  which  had  been  in  previous  use  and 
which  had  the  musical  score."  Music  became  therefore  a 
matter  of  tradition  and  memory.  And  as  the  Bay  Psalm 
Book  was  in  use  nearly  fifty  years  before  a  few  tunes 
were  inserted,  there  was  ample  time  for  tradition  to  vary 
and  memory  to  die.  To  add  to  the  difficulty,  no  instru- 
mental accompaniment,  save  the  pitch-pipe  and  tuning-fork, 
was  allowed ;  such  assistance  being'  supposed  forbidden  by 
Amos  v,  23,  /  will  not  hear  tJie  melody  of  thy  viols,  and 
other  passages.  Singing  came  therefore  to  the  pass  of 
utter  confusion  and  poverty.  Tunes  called  b}^  the  same 
name  were  scarcely  recognizable  in  congregations  only  a  few 
miles  apart. 

Many  congregations  did  not  attempt  more  than  three  or 
four  tunes.  The  general  custom  was  to  use  the  Psalms  in 
regular  order ;  and  the  singing  exercise,  which  seems  to  have 
occurred  usually  but  once  in  each  service,  was  from  a 
quarter  to  a  half  hour  in  its  dolorous  duration. 

About  the  first  quarter  of  the  i8th  century,  a  general 
attempt  was  made  to  improve  the  music  by  the  recall  of 
"notes,"  and  as  it  was  termed  "singing  by  rule."  But  it 
met  with  violent  opposition.  Many  congregations  were 
almost  split  on  the  question.  The  innovation  was  denounced 
as  an  insult  to  the  memory  of  the  fathers,  and  as  tending  to 
Papacy.  "If  we  once  begin  to  sing  by  note,  the  next  thing 
will  be  to  pray  by  rule,  and  preach  by  rule,  and  then  comes 


3'  Ainsworth's  version  is  said  to  have  been  used  in  Plymouth  seventy  years, 
and  in  Salem,  forty.  Sternhold  and  Hopkins'  was  used  however  at  Ipswich. 
The  Bay  Psalm  Book  was  the  first  book  ever  published  in  British  America, 
and  is  a  version, prepared  by  New  England  ministers,  of  whom  were  J.  Eliot, 
R.  Mather,  and  T.  Welde.  Palfrey's  N.  E.,  ii,  p.  41,  7iote. 
29 


226  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1679-1682. 

Popery."  Ministers  and  people,  deacons  and  congregation, 
were,  in  many  places,  at  open  hostility  on  this  burning 
question.  The  interposition  of  the  civil  authority  was  in 
some  instances  necessary  to  compose  the  disturbances  aris- 
ing from  the  proposal  to  "sing  by  rule." 

The  history  of  the  matter  in  this  First  Hartford  Society 
well  illustrates  the  already  well-established  conservatism  of 
this  organization.  To  set  it  forth  in  this  connection,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  anticipate  the  regular  progress  of  this  chro- 
nological narrative,  and  to  bring  forward  to  this  place  events 
occurring  about  forty  years  subsequently.  Doubtless,  affairs 
in  a  musical  way  had  gone  on  here  as  generally,  till  about 
1726  the  subject  of  improved  music  began  to  be  agitated  in 
this  region  The  diary  of  Rev.  Timothy  Edwards,  at  East 
Windsor,  and  the  records  of  the  Windsor  church,  show  that 
the  new  method  was  disquieting  this  Israel.^' 

In  1727,  the  pastor  of  this  Hartford  Church,  Rev.  Timothy 
Woodbridge,  preached  a  "Singing  Lecture"  at  East  Hart- 
ford, in  the  pulpit  of  his  nephew,  Rev.  Samuel  Woodbridge.'' 
The  uncle  was  now  seventy-one  years  of  age  and  the 
nephew  forty-four,  and  both  were  obviously  on  the  side  of 


2' Dr.  Tarbox,  Windsor  Chtirch  z^otk  A7iniversary,  pp.  97-100.  See  also 
Stoughton's  "  Windsor  Farmes,"  pp.  96-98. 

^^  The  lecture  was  delivered  in  accordance  with  the  action  of  the  North  Asso- 
ciation of  the  County  of  Hartford,  at  Windsor,  June  6,  1727  :  "This  Association 
taking  into  Consideration  the  Case  of  Regular  Singing  are  fully  of  Opinion  that 
persons  may  well  Improve  their  Time  in  taking  pains  to  be  Instructed  in  it  as  a 
means  to  bring  persons  Into  the  Love  of  that  Excellent  Improvement  of  their 
minds,  and  as  a  proper  means  to  Introduce  Singing  of  Psalms  in  Private  Houses 
which  thro  want  of  Skill  is  too  much  neglected.  And  further  we  Judge  this  way 
of  Introducing  this  way  of  Singing  into  our  Congregations  will  much  promote 
the  Decency  of  our  publick  worshipping  of  our  Redeemer  in  Singing  his 
Psalms ;  &  by  the  attaining  of  Vnderstanding  In  Singing  many  persons  that  Sit 
Silent  at  that  part  of  worship  will  be  able  to  open  their  mouths  to  the  praise  of 
God  and  Spiritual  Edification  of  others :  and  that  we  may  give  our  farther 
Testimony  we  agree  that  on  the  Last  Wednesday  of  this  Instant  June  a  Singing 
Lecture  be  Held  in  Hartford  on  the  East  Side  of  the  River,  when  we  will 
endeavour  to  be  present."     Association  Records, 


1679-1682.]  EARLY   CHURCH   USAGES.  22/ 

the  new  method.  The  lecture  was  printed/'  with  a  preface 
signed  Per  Amicum,  perhaps  written  by  the  nephew,  in 
which  it  is  said:  "The  following  Discourse  was  delivered  at 
a  Lecture  for  the  Encouragement  of  Regular  Singing,  a 
comely  &  Commendable  practice ;  which  for  want  of  Care  in 
preserving,  and  skillful  Instructors  to  revive,  has  Languished 
in  the  Countrey  till  it  is  in  a  manner  Lost  and  Dead;  yea 
it  has  been  so  Long  Dead,  as  with  some  it  Stinketh,  who 
judge  it  a  great  Crime  to  use  meanes  to  Recover  it  againe." 

The  lecture  of  the  uncle,  from  the  text,  Matthezv  v,  16, 
Let  your  light  so  shine,  etc.,  says:  "Among  the  Conten- 
tions that  have  arisen  in  our  times,  an  Endeavor  to  Rectify 
our  Singing  of  Psalms,  and  the  Recovery  the  Disorders 
thereof  by  bringing  it  to  the  Rule,  hath  been  an  occasion  of 
Offense  taken  where  none  hath  been  given,  which  hath  occa- 
sioned a  very  Unsuitable  behaviour  in  some  places  Profess- 
ing Godliness." 

The  aged  preacher  goes  on  to  exhort:  "Be  careful  of 
Censuring  Persons  only  because  they  are  desirous  of  and 
labour  to  Introduce  Regular  Singing.     This  is  no  Note  of 

Unholiness  or  Unworthiness Be  careful  you  do  not 

Prejudice  yourselves  against  it  from  such  Objections  as  will 
not  support  your  Opinion-  before  Moderate  and  Unbyassed 
Persons." 

He  then  proceeds  to  answer  some  objections  to  the  new 
way,  of  which  the  mention  of  two  will  suffice :  "  Another 
Objection  is  that  it  is  Endeavoured  to  be  introduced  only  by 
Young  Men','  and  that  "  Hereby  we  shall  cast  Reflection  on 
our  Godly  Ancestors!' 


3-1  The  Duty  of  God's  Professing  People,  in  Glorifying  their  Heavenly  Father  ; 
Opened  and  Applyed,  in  a  Sermon  Preached  at  a  Singing  Lecture,  in  Hartford, 
East  Society,  June  the  28th  1727.  New  London:  Printed  and  Sold  by  T. 
Green.     1727.     16  mo.     Pp.  i-iv  To  the  Reader,  "  Per  Amicum :  "  1-16. 


228  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    TN    HARTFORD.        [1679-1682. 

The  same  year  the  matter  came  before  the  General 
Association,  met  at  Hartford,  May  12th,  a  few  days  previous 
to  the  "Singing  Lecture"  just  spoken  of.  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Chauncy ""  read  a  paper  which  the  Association,  over  the 
signature  of  "  T.  Woodbridge,  Moderator,"  ordered  printed, 
entitled  "  Regular  Singing  Defended  and  Proved  to  be  the 
Only  True  Way  of  Singing  the  Songs  of  the  Lord."  '"  The 
subject  proposed  for  discussion  was  :  "  Whether  in  Singing 
the  Songs  of  the  Lord  we  ought  to  proceed  by  a  certain 
Rule,  or  to  do  it  in  any  Loose,  Defective,  Irregular  way  that 
this  or  that  People  have  Accustomed  themselves  unto." 
One  of  the  reasons  the  essayist  gives  for  the  strong  attach- 
ment to  the  old  method  is  interesting.  "  Many  will  readily 
Grant  that  they  [the  singers  by  ear]  use  many  Quavers  and 
Semi-Quavers  &c.  and  on  this  very  account  it  is  that  they 
are  so  well  pleased  with  it,  and  so  loath  to  part  with  it  : 
now  all  these  Musical  Characters  belong  wholly  to  Airy  and 
Vain  Songs,  neither  do  we  own  or  allow  any  of  them  in  the 
Songs  of  the  Lord." 

But  notwithstanding  this  committal  of  the  old  Pastor  and 
of  the  General  Association  to  the  new  way,  the  Hartford 
Church  continued  in  the  old  several  years  longer.  It  sung 
as  it  had  sung  in  Isaac  Foster'5  day,  till  after  the  long 
pastorate  of  Timothy  Woodbridge  ended,  and  until  he,  after 
advocating  the  reform  in  vain,  was  gathered  to  his  fathers. 

The  year  after  Mr.  Woodbridge  died,  however,  the  Society 
took  action,  on  the  20th  of  June,  1733,  in  this  cautious  and 
tentative  manner  : 

"  Voted  that  this  Society  are  willing  and  Content  that 
Such  of  them  as  Encline  to  Learn  to  Sing  by  Rule  should 


"^^  Of  Durham,  the  first  graduate  of  Yale  College,  the  only  member  of  the 
"  class  "  of  1702. 

3"  New  London,  J.  Green,  1727,  i6mo,  pp.  54. 


1679-1682.]  EARLY   CHURCH   USAGES. 


229 


apply  themselves  in  the  best  manner  they  Can  to  gain  a 
knowledge  thereof.  Voted  and  agreed  that  after  the  Expira- 
tion of  three  months,  Singing  by  Rule  shall  be  admitted  to 
be  practiced  in  the  Congregation  of  this  Society  in  their 
publick  Worship  on  the  Lord's  day  &  until  their  annual 
Meeting  in  December  next ;  &  that  then  a  Vote  be  Taken 
whether  the  Society  will  further  proceed  in  that  way  or 
otherwise." 

The  two  leaders  of  the  opposing  methods  were  then 
designated  to  "  Take  on  them  the  Care  of  Setting  the 
Psalm  "  for  the  periods  specified  :  "  Mr.  William  Goodwin  as 
usuall,"  and  "  Mr.  Joseph  Gilbert  jr.  after  the  Expiration  of 
the  three  months."  Tried  thus  prudently  for  four  months, 
the  Society  saw  its  way  in  December  to  vote  "  that  singing 
by  Rule  be  admitted  and  practiced  in  the  Congregation  of 
this  Society  in  their  publick  Worshipping  of  God,"  and  Mr. 
Gilbert  was  empowered  to  "  sett  the  psalm."  So  that  it  was 
not  long,  probably,  before  it  could  have  been  said  of  the 
Hartford  congregation,  as  Cotton  Mather  had  quite  exult- 
antly said  some  years  before  of  the  improved  condition  of 
things  in  Massachusetts  churches,  that  "  more  than  a  Score 
of  Tunes  are  heard.  Regularly  Sung  in  their  Assemblies,"  " 

After  the  singing  of  the  Psalm,  "  the  Sermon  follows  .... 
The  Length  of  a  Sermon  ....  is  very  like  the  Length  of  a 
Tractate  among  the  Ancients,"  which  Cotton  Mather,  who 
gives  this  definite  comparison,  further  says  is  ''about  an 
hourT  •"'  He,  however,  stipulates  for  greater  "Liberty"  on 
occasion.  The  preaching  was,  for  the  most  part,  from  a  very 
small  brief.  The  practice  of  extended  notes  or  fully  written 
discourses,  Mather  speaks  of  as  taken  up  only  of  "  later 
years  ; "    and    he   elsewhere    says  ''    that    Mr.    Warham    of 


•^■^  Ratio,  p.  55. 
""  Ibid,  p.  57. 

Alagnalia,  vol.  i,  p.  399. 


39 


230  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.     •  [1679-1682. 

Windsor,  was  the  first  man  in  the  country  to  use  fully 
written  notes  in  preaching. 

In  some  places,  as  in  New  Haven,  the  congregation  were 
accustomed  to  rise  and  stand  "uncovered"  at  the  reading 
of  the  text,  as  a  fitting  token  of  reverence  for  the  word  of 
God.^°     Prayer  and  Benediction  concluded  the  service. 

The  second  service  of  the  Lord's  Day  was  generally 
"  about  two  in  the  afternoone  ;  "  a  substantial  repetition  of 
the  morning  exercise,  with  a  change  of  parts  in  the  officiat- 
ing ministers  when  a  church  had  two  preaching  elders  ;  the 
Pastor  opening  with  exposition  and  prayer,  and  the  Teacher 
delivering  the  sermon.^' 

The  contribution  was  then  taken,  "  One  of  the  Deacons 
saying,  Brethren  of  the  Congregation,  now  there  is  time  left 
for  contribution,  wherefore,  as  God  hath  prospered  you,  so 
freely  offer."  '"  The  people  came  forward  in  the  order  of 
their  supposed  "  dignity,"  and  made  such  offerings  as  they 
chose,  of  money  or  written  promise  to  pay  hereafter,  or 
sometimes  of  chattel  articles  of  merchandise.  In  the  First 
church  of  New  Haven,  and  probably  elsewhere,  wampum 
was  frequently  presented  as  a  part  of  the  contribution." 

The  seating  of  people  in  the  congregation  was  a  matter 
of  grave  and  solemn  concern.  In  the  Hartford  Society  it 
was  the  occasion  of  constantly  recurring  votes,  of  which  it 
will  suffice  to  give  only  a  specimen  or  twO; 

Jan.  4,  1685.     "  Voted  by  the   Society  that  thay  desired 


*°  Hutchinson,  i,  430,  note.  "  Uncovered  "  suggests  that  men  sometimes  wore 
their  hats  in  church. 

*'  Lechford,  p.  47. 

42  Ibid,  48. 

*^  The  Town  of  New  Haven  has  the  record  in  this  connection  that  "  much  of 
the  wampum  brought  in  is  so  faulty  that  the  oiificers  can  hardly  or  not  at  all  pass 
it  away  in  any  of  their  occasions."  A  fact  significantly  suggestive  of  the  occa- 
sional quality  of  a  portion  of  the  contents  of  a  modern  contribution  box. 


1679-16S2.]  EARLY   CHURCH   USAGES.  23 1 

Capt.  John  Allyn  to  seate  the  people  in  our  meeting  howse, 
according  to  his  Judgement  and  Discresion,  Boath  in  y" 
Lower  Roome  and  in  y*"  Gallery." 

Dec.  28,  1691.  "Made  choyce  of  Coll  John  Allyn,  Capt 
Cyprian  Nicols,  Lieut  Joseph  Wadsworth,  Decon  Joseph 
Easton  and  Decon  Joseph  Olmsted  to  new  Seate  the  good 
people  belong  to  the  first  Meeting  house  in  Hartford,  thare 
beeing  need  of  that  worke  to  be  done." 

The  seaters  of  the  house  were  supposed  to  consider  the 
age,  parentage,  and  general  social  standing  of  all  members 
of  the  congregation,  and  to  arrange  their  position  in  the 
meeting-house  accordingly.''  Proximity  to  the  pulpit  was 
the  general  principle  determining  the  dignity  of  the  sitting, 
modified  however  by  the  question  of  "  square  pew "  or 
"  long  seat  ;  "  square  pews  having  priority  of  honor.  Fre- 
quent heart-burnings  and  sometimes  long-continued  family- 
feuds  grew  out  of  these  peremptory  assignments  of  men  to 
what  the  seaters  chose  to  consider  their  proper  place. 

Boys  were  a  very  troublesome  factor  of  early  New  Eng- 
land congregations.  Votes  concerning  this  apparently  irre- 
pressible portion  of  the  Sabbath  worshipers  are  scattered 
all  along  the  town  and  society  records.  Out  of  a  great 
many,  a  few  specimens  must  suffice. 

Oct.  30,   1643.     The  Town   voted,  "  If  any  boy  shall  be 


**  In  New  Haven  First  Church  several  formal  votes  of  the  sittings  are  pre- 
served, of  which  a  specimen  is  given  by  Dr.  Bacon,  Histo-ical  Discotascs, 
pp.  310-312.     In  Glastonbury  the  "  dignity  "  of  pews  was  thus  ordered  : 

1.  The  pewes, next  the  pulpit  (exclusive  of  the  minister's  pew)  tft  be  the  first 
seat  and  the  highest. 

2.  The  second  pew  to  be  the  second  seat. 

3.  The  fore  seat  [in  the  body  of  the  house]  to  be  the  third  seat. 

4.  The  third  pew  and  the  second  seat  to  be  equal. 

5.  The  fourth  pew  from  the  pulpit  and  the  third  seat  to  be  equal,  etc. 

It  was  not  till  1757  that  men  and  their  wives  were  seated  together  in  that 
church.  Chapin's  Glastonbury,  p.  79.  In  East  Hartford  the  "  dignifying  "  of 
the  house  continued  till  1824.     Goodwin's  East  Hartfo7-d,  p.  132. 


232  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1679-1682. 

taken  playing  or  misbehaving  himself  in  the  time  of  publick 
services  whether  in  the  meeting  house,  or  about  the  walls 
without  [the  same  to  be  proved  by  two  witnesses]  he  shall 
be  punished  presently  before  the  assembly  depart,  and  if  any 
s*hall  be  the  second  time  faulty  one  witness  shall  be  accounted 
enough." 

Dec.  23,  1697.  The  Society  "appointed  Thomas  Butler 
to  looke  after  the  Boyes  that  are  to  Sett  in  the  meeting- 
house from  the  North  Doore  to  the  ....  that  they  do  nott 
play  upon  the  Sabath  or  in  time  of  publique  worship,  and 
they  made  choyce  of  George  Northway  to  Looke  after  the 
Boyes  in  the  South  side  of  the  gallery." 

Dec.  15,  1716.  "Voted  that  all  the  Boyes  under  sixteen 
shall  sit  below,  sume  in  the  gard  sects  and  sum  in  the  alley." 

Dec.  19,  1726.  Voted  that  "  Messrs  John  Cook  and  Thomas 
Ensign  Take  Care  of  the  boyes  ....  to  observe  the  disor- 
derly behaviour  of  boyes  and  young  men  in  the  Gallery  at 
Meeting,  and  acquaint  the  Tything  men  thereof  for  present- 
ment to  be  prosecuted  in  the  Law." 

Obviously  the  "  Boyes  "  were  a  troublesome  sort  of  people. 
But  the  effectual  cure  of  the  disorder— the  seating  of  fami- 
lies together  instead  of  separating  husbands  and  wives, 
parents  and  children — does  not  seem  to  have  occurred  to  our 
venerated  ancestors. 

One  of  the  important  early  ecclesiastical  usages  in  New 
England  was  the  Weekly  Lecture.  Some  reference  has 
already  been  made  "  to  the  prominent  place  this  mid-week 
religious  service  held  in  the  life  of  the  time.  To  some  extent 
a  greater  latitude  of  subjects  than  was  allowed  to  Sunday 
services,  was  accorded  to  Lecture-day,  and  the  general  mor- 
als and  manners  of  the  community  were  made  the  topic  of 
pulpit  animadversion  and  comment.  Mr.  Cotton's  practice 
of  discussing  the  whole  range  of  affairs  in  public  and  private 

*^  Ante,  p.  69-71. 


1679-16S2.]  EARLY   CHURCH   USAGES.  233 

behaviors,  was  doubtless  to  a  considerable  extent  indicative 
of  what  was  customary  and  expected  on  these  occasions, and 
it  was  very  likely  the  anticipation  of  a  free  handling  of  mat- 
ters coming  home  to  men's  business  and  bosoms,  which  gave 
the  lecture  such  popularity,  that  in  Massachusetts  at  least 
the  time  and  frequency  of  the  lectures  had  to  be  made  the 
topic  of  prescription  and  limitation  by  law." 

One  feature  of  Lecture-day  asks,  however,  a  moment's 
more  distinct  notice ;  a  feature  which  possibly  added  to  its 
solemnity  and  popularity.  It  was  the  day,  and  lecture  hour 
the  time,  for  the  infliction  of  the  sentence  of  the  law  on  per- 
sons convicted  of  misdemeanors  against  society.  The  stocks, 
the  pillory,  and  the  whipping-post  were  in  close  proximity  to 
the  meeting-house ;  and  the  Lecture-day  warnings  against 
wrong-doing  uttered  in  the  latter,  were  often  reinforced  by 
practical  illustration  of  the  consequences  of  wrong-doing,  at 
some  one  of  the  former.     A  few  examples  will  answer  : 

June  4,  1640.  "Nicholas  Olmsteed  ....  is  to  stand 
vppon  the  Pillery  at  Hartford  the  next  lecture  day  dureing  the 
time  of  the  lecture.  He  is  to  be  sett  on  a  lytle  before  the 
beginning  &  to  stay  thereon  a  litle  after  the  end." '' 

Mch.  5,  1644.  "Susan  Coles  for  her  rebellious  cariedge 
toward  her  mistris,  is  to  be  sent  to  the  howse  of  correction 
and  be  keept  to  hard  labour  &  course  dyet,  to  be  brought 
forth  the  next  lecture  day  to  be  publiquely  corrected,  and  so 
to  be  corrected  weekely  vntil  Order  be  giuen  to  the  con- 
trary." 

"  Walter  Gray,  for  his  misdemeanour  in  laboring  to  inueagle 
the  affections  of  Mr.  Hoocker's  mayde,  is  to  be  publiquely 
corrected  next  lecture  Day."  " 


••'■'  Ajiie,  p.  69.  See  also  Mass.  Col.  Rec,  i,  p.  109,  where  it  was  ordered  "that 
hereafter  noe  lecture  shall  begin  before  one  a  clocke  in  the  after  noone ;  "  a 
regulation  which  was  afterward  revoked  \Ibid,  i,  p.  290]  and  this  substituted  : 
"  Ordered  that  the  time  of  beginning  of  lectures  shalbee  left  to  the  Churches." 

■*'  Col.  Rec,  i,  p.  50. 

*"  Ibid,  p.  1 24. 
30 


234  ^^^^   FIRST    CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1679-16S2. 

Oct.  17,  1648.  "The  Court  adjudgeth  Peter  Bussaker,  for 
his  fillthy  and  prophane  expressions  (viz.  that  hee  hoped  to 
meete  some  of  the  Members  of  the  Church  in  hell  ere  long, 
and  hee  did  not  question  but  hee  should)  to  be  committed 
to  prison,  there  to  be  kept  in  safe  custody  till  the  sermon,  and 
then  to  stand  the  time  thereof  in  the  pillory,  and  after  ser- 
mon to  bee  seuerely  whipt."  " 

It  was  a  stern,  hard  age.  Such  spectacles  of  public  igno- 
miny and  physical  suffering  had  their  bad  influence,  as  well 
as  the  possible  good  they  were  sincerely  intended  to  serve. 
The  worst  and  the  best  that  can  be  said  of  the  Hartford 
practice  in  these  matters  is,  that  it  was  a  practice  general  to 
the  age,  and  there  is  no  evidence  that  its  coarseness  or  sever- 
ity was  greater  than  was  common  everywhere. 

The  Funeral  services  of  early  New  England  were  severely 
austere.  Lechford  says  of  the  time,  about  1640,'"  "At  Bur- 
ials, nothing  is  read  nor  any  Funeral  Sermon  made,  but  all 
the  neighborhood,  or  a  good  company  of  them  come  together 
by  the  tolling  of  the  bell,  and  carry  the  dead  solemnly  to  his 
grave,  and  there  stand  by  him  while  he  is  buried." 

The  first  known  instance  of  prayer  at  a  funeral  is  that  at 
the  burial  of  Rev.  Wm.  Adams  of  Roxbury,  August  1685, 
of  which  it  is  recorded,  "  Mr.  Wilson,  minister  of  Medfield, 
prayed  with  the  company  before  they  went  to  the  grave."  " 
But  habits  gradually  ameliorated.  Cotton  Mather  writes  in 
1726:"  "In  many  Towns  of  New  England,  the  Ministers 
make  agreeable  Prayers  with  the  People  come  together  at 
the  House,  to  attend  the  Funeral  of  the  Dead.  And  in 
some  the  Ministers  make  a  short  Speech  at  the  Grave." 


« Ibid,  p.  168. 

S°  Plaine  Dealing,  pp.  87-S8. 

5'  Palfrey's  N.  E.,  iii,  p.  495,  note.  Sewall  records,  January  22,  1697-8,  at  the 
burial  of  Capt.  Joshua  Scottow,  a  very  important  man  in  Massachusetts,  "No 
Minister  at  Capt.  Scottow's  Funeral." 

^'^  Ratio,  p.  X17. 


1679-1682.]  EARLY   CHURCH   USAGES.  235 

The  coffin,  generally  painted  black,  was  borne  on  a  bier 
carried  by  relays  of  bearers,  for  whom,  as  often  for  the  com- 
pany generally,  refreshments  were  prepared  by  the  family  of 
the  dead  person.  Sometimes  the  nature  and  amount  of  these 
funeral  supplies  was  matter  of  regulation  by  will.  An  in- 
stance is  in  the  will  of  Edward  Veir  of  Wethersfield,  dated 
July  19,  1645  :  "Mymynd  is  that  there  shalbe  20i-.  bestowed 
vppon  p'uissions  of  wyne,  bear,  caks  and  such  like,  of  which 
may  be  had  for  my  buriall."  ''  It  was  long  the  custom  for 
the  women  to  walk  foremost  in  the  procession  when  one  of 
their  own  sex  was  buried,  and  for  the  men  to  precede  when 
a  man  was  buried. 

Marriages,  too,  in  the  early  period  of  New  England,  lacked 
the  formality  of  accompanying  religious  ceremony. 

The  Plymouth  Colony  people  brought  over  with  them  "y'' 
laudable  custome  of  y^'  Low-Cuntries  in  which  they  had  lived," 
where  it  "was  thought  most  requisite  to  be  performed  by  the 
magistrate,  as  being  a  civill  thing,  ....  and  no  wher  found 
in  y''  gospell  to  be  layed  on  y^'  ministers  as  a  parte  of  their 
office."  "'  In  the  Bay  Colony,  too,  pains  were  early  taken  to 
"bring  it  a  custom  by  practice  for  magistrates  to  perform  "  •" 
the  ceremony  of  marriage  ;  though  no  legislation,  either  there 
or  at  Plymouth,  against  the  act  of  ministers  seems  to  have 
been  regarded  as  necessary.^  It  was  a  power  not  esteemed 
inherent  in  the  new  conceived  office  of  the  ministry.  It  is 
said  "'■  the  first  marriage  ratified  by  a  minister  in  Massachu- 
setts was  in  1686. 


53  Col.  Rec,  i,  p.  464. 

5*  Bradford's  History  of  Plymouth,  p.  loi. 

°°  Winthrop,  i,  p.  389.  The  Colonial  sentiment  on  this  subject  found  quicker 
expression  in  custom  than  the  sentiment  of  the  home  country,  of  course;  but 
in  August  1653,  Parliament  enacted  that  after  the  20th  of  September  following, 
all  marriages  should  take  place  "before  some  Justice  of  the  Peace;"  a  bit  of 
Puritan  legislation  which  it  is  needless  to  say  did  not  survive  the  Restoration. 

5"  Proceeding's  Mass.  Hist.  Soc,  1858-60,  p.  283. 


236  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1679-16S2. 

In  Connecticut,  also,  all  early  marriages  were  ratified  by 
the  civil  magistrate.  It  was  not  till  October  11,  1694,  that 
the  General  Court  enacted  the  following  law,  empowering 
ministers  to  marry  : 

"  This  Court  doe  for  the  sattisfaction  of  such  as  are  con- 
scienciously  desirous  to  be  marryed  by  the  ministers  of  their 
plantations  doe  grant  the  ordayned  ministers  of  the  severall 
plantations  in  this  Colony  liberty  to  joyne  in  marriage  such 
persons  as  are  qualifyed  for  the  same  according  to  law."  " 

Sometimes,  however,  a  "Solemnity,  called  a  Contraction,  a 
little  before  the  Consummation  of  a  Marriage  w2iS  allowed  of. 
A  Pastor  was  usually  employed,  and  a  Sermon  also  preached 
on  this  Occasion."  '"  How  generally  this  custom  of  "Ancient 
Sponsalia  "  prevailed  is  difficult  to  say, ''  though  Mather,  writ- 
ing in  1726,  speaks  of  it  as  "wholly  laid  aside." 

In  connection  with  this  question  of  marriage  usages,  it  may 
be  remarked  in  passing,  that  about  the  period  now  treated  of 
and  for  a  long  time  afterward,  a  strange  relaxation  of  the  early 
morals  of  the  earliest  New  England  period  is  observable.  The 
matter  became  the  subject  of  astonishingly  frequent,  and  sin- 
gularly familiar  and  matter-of-fact  dealing  on  the  part  of  the 
churches ;  as  is  testified  to  by  almost  all  old  church  records.'' 
Whether  a  curious  social  custom  which  widely  prevailed  in 
New  England  in  the  intercourse  of  young  people  in  process 


"  Co/.i?^<r.,  Hi,  136. 

^^  Ratio  Disciplincc,  p.  112. 

^^  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull  deciphers  from  the  Ms.  note-book  of  Henry  Wolcot 
of  Windsor,  the  heads  of  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  John  Warham,  November 
17,  1640,  "at  the  contracting  of  Benedict  Alvord  and  Abraham  Randall,"  who 
married,  respectively  Joan  Newton  and  Mary  Ware.  The  text  was  Ephes.  vi,  10- 
I  r,  and  one  of  the  "  uses  "  of  the  discourse  was  to  teach  "  that  the  State  of  mar- 
riage is  a  war-faring  condition."  Trumbull's  notes  to  Lechford's  Plaine  Dealing, 
pp.  87-88. 

'''^  The  traces  of  the  matters  referred  to,  on  the  meager  pages  of  the  First 
Church  records,  are  said  to  have  caused  Dr.  Hawes  to  remark,  "  We  have  but 
one  small  volume  of  Church  Records,  and  I  wish  that  was  burned." 


1679-1682.I  EARLY   CHURCH    USAGES.  237 

of  courtship,  and  which  has  happily  long  ago  disappeared, 
had  any  considerable  influence  in  causing  the  trouble  referred 
to,  is  a  point  about  which  antiquaries  are  disagreed."  There 
can  be  less  question,  however,  that  the  chief  part  of  these 
instances  which  come  under  modern  observation  on  the  pages 
of  ancient  church  memorials,  belong  to  the  half-way  covenant 
membership,  and  not  to  the  full  communion. 

On  the  whole,  a  retrospect  of  the  early  usages  of  New 
England,  leads  tQ  no  special  longing  for  the  old  times  to 
come  back  again,  nor  encourages  the  fancy  that  "the  former 
days  were  better  than  these."  We  have  our  evils  and 
troubles.  Our  fathers  had  theirs.  The  sternnesses  and 
severities  of  their  days  were  partly  the  result  of  the  hard- 
ness of  their  lot,  and  the  difficulty  of  the  work  they  were 
called  to  do.  Well,  if  amid  the  softer  manners  and  easier 
conditions  of  life  with  us,  we  lose  not  their  sturdiness  of 
faith  and  their  loyalty  to  the  truth  as  they  conceived  of  it ! 

•>'  The  custom  known  as  Bundling,  which  Webster  defines,  "  To  sleep  on 
the  same  bed  without  undressing  —  applied  to  the  custom  of  man  and  woman, 
especially  lovers,  thus  sleeping,"  was  undoubtedly  prevalent  in  New  England. 
The  usage  has,  with  various  modifications,  existed  in  Scotland,  Ireland,  England, 
Wales,  Holland,  and  elsewhere.  It  did  not  wholly  disappear  from  New  Eng- 
land till  near  the  commencement  of  the  present  century.  It  was  often  defended 
as  entailing  no  disastrous  moral  or  social  consequences  ;  as  being  the  expedient 
of  poverty  in  the  times  of  hard  labor,  cold  houses,  and  brief  hours  of  social 
intercourse  ;  but  there  cannot  be  much  doubt  that  the  usage  was  to  some  extent 
the  occasion  of  the  tarnishing  of  the  records  of  the  New  England  churches,  and 
of  the  fair  names  of  some  of  the  not  least  honored  of  New  England  families. 


CHAPTER     X. 


TIMOTHY  WOODBRIDGE  AND   HIS  TIMES. 

Isaac  Foster  was  succeeded  by  Timothy  Woodbridge.  Mr. 
Woodbridge  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Woodbridge '  — 
himself  son  of  a  clergyman  of  the  same  name  —  who  came  to 
New  England,  in  1634,  with  his  uncle,  Rev.  Thomas  Parker 
of  Newbury,  Mass.  The  father,  after  residing  some  years  at 
Newbury  in  positions  of  public  trust,  was  ordained  minister 
of  the  church  at  Andover,  Mass.,  October  24,  1645.  Return- 
ing, however,  to  England  he  became  minister  of  the  parish  of 
Barford  St.  Martin's,  in  Wiltshire,  where  his  sixth  child, 
Timothy,  was  born,  and  was  baptized  January  13,  1656. 
Ejected  from  his  parish  at  the  time  of  the  Episcopal  Restor- 
ation, he  returned  to  America  in  1663,  and  became  an  asso- 
ciate with  his  uncle,  Thomas  Parker,  in  the  ministry  at  New- 
bury. Of  young  Timothy,  who  was  thus  seven  years  of  age 
when  his  father  resumed  his  New  England  habitation,  noth- 


'  Rev.  John  Woodbridge  was  born  at  Stanton  in  Wilts  in  1613.  His  mother 
was  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Parker.  Coming  to  New  England  with  his  uncle 
Thomas  Parker,  he  was  town  clerk  in  Newbury;  deputy  to  the  General  Court; 
Surveyor  of  Arms,  etc.  In  1643  he  taught  school  at  Boston.  In  1639  he  mar- 
ried Mercy,  daughter  of  Gov.  Thomas  Dudley.  In  1647  he  returned  to  Eng- 
land and  was  minister  of  the  parish  of  Barford  St.  Martin's,  Wilts ;  from  which 
at  the  Restoration,  he  was  ejected.  He  returned  to  New  England  July  27,  1663, 
with  a  numerous  family,  and  became  assistant  to  his  uncle  Thomas  Parker  at* 
Newbury,  but  was  dismissed,  November  21,  1670.  He  was  an  Assistant  in  the 
Mass.  Colony  in  1683  and  1684,  and  died  at  Newbury  March  17,  1695.  See 
Mather's  Magjialia,  i,  542-544,  and  Miss  M.  K.  Talcott's  article,  N.  E.  Gen. 
and  Hist.  Reg.,  July,  187S. 


1683-1732-1  TIMOTHY    WOODBRIUGE.  330 

ing  is  known  till  his  graduation  at  Harvard  College  with  eight 
classmates,  in  1675.  The  question  he  discussed  at  the  grad- 
uation exercises  was,  "An  Eclipsis  solis  tempore  passionis 
CJiristi  fuit  naturalis  ?" ,  respecting  which  he  took  the 
negative.' 

It  is  conjectured  on  partial  evidence  that  young  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge  may,  in  1682,  have  been  exercising  ministerial  func- 
tions in  Kittery,  Maine,'  not  far  from  his  father's  home  at 
Newbury.  But  the  first  authentic  memorial  of  him  in  a 
clerical  capacity  is  in  an  entry  on  the  Hartford  Society'  rec- 
ords, showing  that  of  "a  rate"  of  eighty  pounds  "for  the  year 
'83  to  be  payed  in  '84,"  for  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  "other  ex- 
penses about  procuring  a  minister.  .  .  Mr.  Woodbridges  part 
of  it  was  ;^50."  One  hundred  pounds  was  raised  for  him 
"  from  March  '8^  to  March  1685," '  and  on  November  24,  1684, 


^  Sibley's  Harvard  Graduates,  ii,  p.  448. 

^  Williamson's  Hist.  Maine,  i,  p.  570.  J.  Backus,  Hist.  Baptists,  i,  p.  503.  But  the 
Mr.  Woodbridge  who  was  at  Kittery  in  16S2,  was  quite  as  likely  the  father 
John,  as  the  son  Timothy,  if  either.  The  only  positive  trace  of  him  between 
his  graduation  and  his  appearance  at  Hartford  in  1683,  is  in  a  note  book  of  his 
classmate  John  Pike,  which  relates  apparently  to  a  class-meeting  jollification, 
three  years  after  graduation.  "June  10,  1678,  M'  Timothy  Woodbridge  and 
M''  John  Emerson  for  Informing  A  Batchelour  of  their  Indisposition  to  hold  a 
Question  in  y"'  Commenc'"  making  their  degree  Rather  y'^  Reward  of  stelth 
y"  Learning  or  Virtue  are  (for  this  y'  practice)  Contrary  to  Reason  &  Custom 
Amerced  A  gallon  of  Sack  to  y"  Rest  of  y*^  Classis. — As  attest  Johannes  Pike." 
Sibley,  ii,  p.  454,  note. 

*  It  may  as  well  be  noted  here,  once  for  all,  that  there  is  noremainitig  record 
of  any  action  by  the  Church  in  distinction  from  the  Society,  respecting  the  call 
of  any  Pastor  here,  down  to  the  call  of  Dr.  Hawes,  in  1818. 

^  A  letter  of  Mr.  Woodbridge  to  Cotton  Mather,  belonging  to  this  year,  is 
]Drinted  in  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxxviii,  p.  638.  Its  local  reference,  in  the  paucity  of 
other  details  is  interesting.  "  Here  is  little  newes.  Mr.  Whiting  and  his  rela- 
tions here  have  lately  entered  suit  for  a  considerable  parcel]  of  land  formerly 
belonging  to  his  father,  sold  by  his  mother  after  his  father's  decease,  and  pos- 
sessed near  30  year  without  any  molestation,  and  has  recovered  first  Judgment  of 
Court,  but  the  defendants  (according  to  the  custome  here)  have  entered  a  Re- 
view, so  execution  is  stopt.  It  has  jogged  all  the  attorns  of  the  whole  ant 
heap,  and  almost  everybody  seemes  someways  to  be  concerned  in  it.  He  is 
going  on  the  morrow  to  ordain  Mr.  Nath.  Chancy  of  Hatfield.  By  the  begin- 
nings it  is  feared  we  may  have  a  sickly  summer  this  year." 


240  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1683-1732. 

"at  a  meeting  of  the  First  Church  and  Congregation  in  Hart- 
ford formerly  under  M""  Isaac  Fosters  ministry  it  was  voted 
that  M''  Timothy  Woodbridge  Shall  have  the  Summe  of  one 
Hundred  pounds  by  the  yeare,  paid  him  so  long  as  he  shall 
Continue  with  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  ;  "  and  a  com- 
mittee was  empowered  to  'Mo  what  shall  be  necessary  in  and 
about  s''  M'"  Woodbridge  his  ordination  as  they  shall  see 
Cause  and  God  shall  give  opportunity." " 

The  date  of  the  ordination,  twice  recorded  by  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge  in  the  first  extant  volume  of  records  of  this  Church, 
was  Nov.  18,  1685,  but  no  account  of  proceedings  on  the 
occasion  is  preserved  to  us.  Nor  is  the  exact  time  when  he 
was  taken  by  his  predecessor's  widow,  Mrs.  Mehitable  Fos- 
ter/ to  be  her  third  clerical  husband,  certainly  known  ;  but 
that  event  is  believed  to  have  been  in  1684,  previous  to  his 
formal  succession  to  her  late  consort's  pastorate. 

His  settlement  was  followed,  October,  1687,  by  the  usual 
legislative  appropriation  to  him  of  two  hundred  acres  of 
land,  which  was,  in  1707,  located  and  set  off  to  him  at 
•'  Chestnut  Hill,"  in  Killingly.' 

Mr.  Woodbridge  was  now  nearly  thirty  years  old.  The 
time  at  which  he  entered  on  the  ministry  was  one  of  general 
religious  depression,  prolonging  and  increasing  for  many 
years.     The  demoralizing  influences  of  the  protracted  wars 


•^  No  full  memorandum  of  the  expenses  of  the  ordination  is  extant.  But  the 
Society's  current  account  with  several  of  its  members  preserves  a  few  items : — 
Payed  to  Caleb  Stanley  for  Beefe  for  Mr.  Woodbridges  ordaynation  ;^3.  02.  00 

2  Bushells  VVheate  for  the  ordaynation         9.  00 

3  Bushells  Barley  Mault  -  -       13.  06 
In  cash  to   M'  Olcott  for  4  lb.  butter  for  Mr.  Woodbridges  ordayn- 
ation       -            -            -            -            -         2.  00 

Nathaniell  Goodwine  for  a  sheep  for  Mr.  Woodbridges  ordaination       18.  00 
So  much  pay''  Mrs.  Gilbert  for  SeveiftU  things  for  Mr.  Woodbridges 

ordaynation,  •      -  -  -  -3.  00.  00 

'  See  ante,  p.  220. 
*  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  iii,  245,  and  v,  77. 


i6S;-r73::]  TIMOTHY    WOO!  )RRTI)GE.  24I 

with  the  Indians,  when  the  Indians  were  hostile,  and  of  con- 
tact with  them  when  they  were  peaceable,  were  manifest  on 
every  side.  Over  six  hundred  of  the  young  men  of  New 
England  had  been  killed  in  battle  or  murdered  by  the 
Indians  in  the  two  years  of  King  Philip's  war,  terminated 
by  Philip's  death,  Aug.  12,  1676,  and  in  the  war  with  the 
Eastern  Indians  which  followed.  Every  eleventh  man  in 
the  militia  had  been  killed  ;  every  eleventh  house  had  been 
burnt ;  taxes  were  heavy,  and  the  Colonies  were  in  debt.  It 
is  true  these  losses  of  men  and  habitations  belonged  far 
more  to  other  Colonies  than  to  Connecticut ;  but  the  neces- 
sity of  keeping  so  large  a  part  of  her  militia  in  the  field  ;  of 
fortifying  her  towns,  and  exposing  her  youth  to  the  dangers 
and  temptations  of  camp-life,  had  involved  the  Colony  in 
difficulties,  financial  and  moral,  which  were  clearly  manifest. 
The  operation  of  the  half-way  covenant  in  abolishing  the 
visible  distinction  of  God's  people  and  the  people  of  the 
world,  was  widening,  and  some  of  its  more  indirect  effects  in 
generally  undermining  the  church  and  the  institutions  of 
religion  were  becoming  painfully  actual,  if  not  indeed  clearly 
recognized.  The  church  was  being  filled  with  people  suffi- 
ciently religious  to  be  in  covenant,  and  to  impart  covenant 
privileges  to  their  children,  but  not  religious  enough  to  pro- 
fess, or  to  have,  any  personal  religious  experiences,  or  to 
come  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  Sins  of  drunkenness  and 
licentiousness  were  astonishingly  prevalent  in  a  community 
only  a  few  years  before  planted  by  people  of  devoutest  man- 
ners and  sternest  principles.'' 


^  The  recorcis  of  the  First  Church  respecting  these  vices  among  those  in 
covenant,  as  well  as  public  records  and  the  testimony  of  printed  sermons  of 
the  time,  amply  bear  out  the  above  statements.  It  was  in  1683,  the  first  year 
of  Mr.  Woodbridge's  preaching  in  Hartford,  that  Samuel  Stone  (the  son  of 
Rev.  Samuel,  the  colleague  of  Hooker),  himself  once  a  "  preacher  some  yeares 
31 


242  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [16S3-1732. 

In  his  Election  Sermon,  preached  at  Hartford  in  1674, 
Rev.  James  Fitch  of  Saybrook,  had  exhorted  : 

"  Let  us  call  to  minde  the  first  Glory  in  the  first  planting 
of  New  England  and  of  the  Churches  here.  Let  me  say 
multitudes,  multitudes  were  converted  to  thee,  even  to  thee 
O  Hartford,  to  thee  O  New  Haven,  and  to  thee  O  Windsor. 
....  Shall  New  England  Churches  be  forced  and  spoiled  of 
their  peace  and  partly  by  their  Brethren,  yea  by  their  chil- 
dren the  rising  generation ;  Nay  Brethren  let  me  this  day 
plead  the  cause  of  your  Sister,  do  not  so  foolishly  with  your 
Sister :  Nay,  Children,  let  me  plead  the  cause  of  your  Mother, 
do  not  so  foolishly  with  your  Mother :  but  if  it  prove  so,  as 
for  her  where  shall  her  shame  go  ?  " 

And  in  1686,  on  a  similar  public  occasion,  Rev.  John 
Whiting,  previously  of  this  Church,  had  said  : 

"  Let  me  speak  freely  herein,  it  is  sensibly  certain  we  have 
got  nothing  by  wandering,  and  therefore  it  is  time  to  give  it 
over:  I  may  confidently  assert  in  the  audience  of  this  Assem- 
bly, That  scarce  (if  ever)  people  had  more  cause  to  make  that 
conclusion  than  wee,  Hos.  ii,  7,  /  tvill  go  and  return  to  my 
first  Husband^  for  then  it  ivas  better  ivith  vie  than  now. 
Shall  I  say,  it  was  better  everywhere,  in  Family,  Church, 
Town  and  Colony ;  and  better  everyway,  we  had  better  peace 
and  plenty,  better  health  and  harvests  in  former  than  in  later 
years ;  it  was  better  for  soul  and  body,  better  in  Spirituals, 
less  Sin  ;  and  better  in  temporals,  less  Sorrow  :  O  that  Neiv 
England  might  yet  say  it  in  good  earnest,  and  do  accord- 
ingly, /  will  return  to  my  first  Husband.  ....  Look  into 
famihes  and  other  societies  is  there  not  too  visible  and 
general  a  declension ;  are  we  not  turned  (and  that  quickly 
too)  out  of  the  way  wherein  our  fathers  walked  t "  '" 

Particularly   Mr.   Whiting   inveighs    against   "  that   woful 


in  several!  places  with  general!  acceptance,"  fell  into  the  Little  River  and  was 
drowned,  after  spending  a  day  "  first  at  one  and  then  at  another  Taverne."  See 
Appendix  VII. 

'^  Election  Ser?non,  John  Whiting,  pp.  22,  35. 


1683-1732.1  TIMOTHY   WOODBRIDGE.  243 

trade  of  Indian  drunkenness,"  in  "feeding  their  lusts  for 
filthy  lucres  sake,  ....  wringing  that  little  they  have  out  of 
their  hands."  " 

But  beside  all  the  demoralizing  influences  of  the  border- 
life  experiences  of  the  colonists,  and  the  perverted  ecclesi- 
astical system  introduced  by  the  half-way  covenant,  there 
was  the  distraction  of  continual  political  anxiety.  The 
restoration  of  the  monarchy  in  England,  in  1660,  was  fol- 
lowed by  constant  attempts  to  restrict  civil  liberty  there  and 
in  the  American  provinces.  The  charter  of  the  city  of 
London  was  taken  away  and  declared  forfeited.  Those  of 
other  great  English  towns  suffered  the  same  fate. 

The  colonists,  this  side  of  the  water,  looked  with  constant 
terror  to  the  machinations  of  unscrupulous  enemies  at  Court, 
who  were  urging  the  forfeiture  of  the  privileges  granted  to 
New  England.  James  II.  succeeded  his  profligate  brother, 
Charles,  on  the  6th  of  February,  1685 — the  year  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge  was  installed  Pastor  at  this  place— and,  at  once, 
appointed  a  new  government  for  Massachusetts,  the  charter 


"  Ibid,  p.  29.  This  crime  of  complicity  in  the  debauchery  of  the  Indians 
finds  frequent  mention  in  the  Election  Sermons.  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler,  after 
wards  Rector  of  Yale  College,  in  his  sermon  preached  at  Hartford  in  1717,  says, 
"  Doth  not  Drunkeness  continue,  yea  and  Increase  by  yearly  Accession,  and  like 
a  Mighty  Torrent  Bear  down  the  Force  of  all  the  Laws  that  have  been  enacted 
against  it  and  all  the  Pains  that  are  used }  Can  any  Man  Shut  his  Eyes  or  stop 
his  Ears  from  Observing  it  among  the  Indians  in  our  Towns,  when  it  is  so 
Apparent  in  their  Staggerings  to  and  fro,  their  Apish  Gestures,  and  their 
Hideous  Yellings  in  our  Streets .'  And  is  this  all  they  get  by  Dwelling  among 
us  Christians,  that  they  are  made  more  Stupid  and  Polluted  People  than  they 
were  before  ? " 

But  it  was  not  the  Indians  only  who  drank.  The  Preacher  goes  on  to 
inquire  :  "  And  do  not  too  many  among  us  Stain  their  Profession  by  this 
Sin  .'  Can't  we  see  Persons  and  Families,  Estates,  Healths,  Bodies  and  Souls 
Undone  by  this  Evil }  And  it  is  well  Worthy  of  your  Notice,  whether  there 
are  Sufficient  Provisions  for  the  Prevention  of  it.  I  have  been  the  more  Earn- 
est and  Full  upon  this  general  Head  for  it  looks  to  me  like  the  Approaches  of 
a  General  Deluge."    pp.  49-50. 


244  '^■'^^   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

of  its  Colony  being  declared  void.  Sir  Edmund  Andros 
landed  at  Boston,  as  Governor  of  New  England,  in  Decem- 
ber 1686.  He  imposed  restraints  upon  the  public  press, 
appointing  Edward  Randolph,  one  of  the  bitterest  opposers 
of  New  England's  liberties,  as  the  licenser.  He  imposed 
rigorous  restrictions  upon  marriages.  He  introduced  the 
Episcopal  service  into  the  South  Church  at  Boston.  He 
declared  all  titles  to  property  under  the  vacated  charter 
invalid,  and  with  "four  or  five  of  his  council'""  laid  what 
taxes  he  thought  proper. 

Connecticut's  turn  came  a  little  later.  Andros  arrived  in 
Hartford,  October  31,  1687,  accompanied  by  soldiers,  and 
demanded  the  Charter,  declaring  the  government  dissolved. 
The  Assembly  debated  anil  delayed.  Governor  Treat  repre- 
sented to  Andros  the  hardships  of  the  people  in  planting  the 
Colony,  and  in  building  up  their  scanty  civihzation  in  the 
wilderness,  and  the  evil  and  sorrow  that  would  be  brought  by 
wresting  from  them  the  Patent  under  which  they  had  lived  and 
on  which  they  had  rested.  Debate  was  prolonged  till  night- 
fall. Candles  were  brought  and  the  Charter  was  laid  on  the 
table.  Crowds  of  excited  people  were  gathered.  Suddenly 
the  lights  were  extinguished.  When  re-lighted,  the  Charter 
had  vanished.  Snugly  hid,  by  the  hand  of  Captain  Wads- 
worth,  in  the  hollow  of  the  oak  to  which  it  gave  its  name,  it 
reposed  till  the  downfall  of  James  and  the  accession  of 
another  English  government,  gave  hope  again  for  colonial 
liberty.  Andros,  however,  took  the  administration  of  Con- 
necticut into  his  hands,  and  wrote  "Finis"  on  the  record 
book  of  the  government,  which  he  declared  ended. 

The  downfall  of  James  and  the  accession  of  William, 
followed  as  it  was  by  the  glad  reappearance  of  the  Charter, 


^'^  Hutchi)isflii,  i,  p.  361. 


1683-1732-]  TIMOTHY    WOODBRIDGE.  245 

on  May  9th,  1689,  from  its  hiding  place  in  the  oak,  changed 
doubtless,  but  scarcely  abated,  the  excitement  of  the  public 
mind. 

The  accession  of  William  was  shortly  followed  by  declara- 
tion of  war  between  England  and  France ;  and  war  between 
England  and  France  meant  war  between  Canada  and  New 
England,  and  war,  moreover,  attended  by  all  the  horrors  of 
Indian  barbarity.  In  1690  Schenectady  was  pillaged,  and 
sixty  of  its  inhabitants  put  to  death  with  savage  cruelty. 
Salmon  Falls  suffered  in  the  same  year  a  similar  fate.  The 
whole  country  was  tremulous  with  fear.  A  similar  destiny 
might  overtake  any  frontier  settlement.  All  the  males  in 
Connecticut,  except  aged  and  infirm,  were  ordered  on  watch, 
by  turns. '^ 

These  measures  for  home  defence  were  followed  by  re- 
peated military  expeditions  in  cooperation  with  the  military 
of  the  other  Colonies,  to  the  frontiers  of  New  York  and 
Massachusetts  extending  through  several  years,  entailing 
large  expense  and  hardship. 

Meantime,  it  is  apparent  from  various  sources  "  that  more 
than  usual  severity  of  flood  and  storm,  and  prevalence  of 
disease,  and  scantiness  of  crops,  marked  this  whole  period ; 
so  that  the  twenty  concluding  years  of  the  seventeenth 
century  were  among  the  gloomiest  passages  of  New  England 
history. 

Against  all  these  adverse  influences,  the  best  men  of  the 
colonies,  in  Church  and  State,  made  what  head  they  could. 
In  Massachusetts,  the  Court,  at  the  request  of  the  Elders, 
called  a  Synod,  which  met  Sept.  10-20,  1679,  and  which  is 


'3  Col.  Rec,  iv,  p.  18. 

1*  See  Proclamations  of  Fast  Days  in  the  various  Colonies  (specimens  of 
which  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  iii,  p.  46,  iii,  p.  131-132) ;  Election  Sermons  ;  Sewall's 
Diary  ;  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  v,  etc. 


246  THE    FIRST    CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [16S3-1732, 

known  as  the  Reforming  Synod,  to  take  the  alarming  con- 
dition of  religious  matters  into  consideration.  Among  the 
evils  which  the  Synod  pointed  out''  were  "great  and  visible 
decay  of  the  power  of  Godliness  amongst  many  professors, 
,  .  pride  in  respect  of  apparel,  .  .  oaths  and  imprecations 
in  ordinary  discourse,  .  .  Sabbath  breaking,"  neglect  of 
"discipline  extended  toward  children  of  the  covenant,  .  . 
lawsuits,  .  .  intemperance,  the  heathenish  and  idolatrous 
practice  of  health  drinking,  .  .  breaches  of  the  seventh 
commandment,  .  .  mixed  dancing,  light  behaviour,  unlawful 
gaming,  .  .  oppression,  .  .  incorrigibleness  under  lesser 
judgments." 

In  order  to  redress  these  evils,  the  Synod  recommended, 
among  other  things,  a  re-affirmation  of  the  "faith  and  order 
in  the  gospel  .  .  expressed  in  the  [Cambridge]  Platform 
of  discipline;"  carefulness  that  none  "be  admitted  to  com- 
munion in  the  Lord's  supper  without  making  a  personal  and 
publick  profession  of  faith  and  repentance;"  the  stricter 
observance  of  "discipline;"  the  more  adequate  supply  of 
church  officers,  "there  being  in  most  congregations  only  one 
teaching  officer  for  the  burden  of  the  whole  congregation  ; 
.  .  solemn  and  explicit  renewal  of  covenant;"  fostering 
of  "schools  of  learning,"  and  an  endeavor  "to  cry  mightily 
unto  God  both  in  ordinary  and  extraordinary  manner  that  he 
would  be  pleased  to  rain  down  righteousness  upon  us."" 

Here  in  Connecticut,  religious  endeavor  took  other  forms. 
Moved  by  the  Elders,  the  Assembly,  at  its  session  in  May 
1680,  appointed  a  Fast  to  be  held  in  June,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  recommended 

"To  the  ministry  of  the  Colony  to  cattechise  the  youth  in 


^'^ Mogilalia,  ii,  pp.  273-277. 
'"^  Ibid,  pp.  278-282. 


16S3-1732]  TIMOTHY    WOODBRIDGE. 


247 


their  respective  place  that  are  under  twenty  yeares  of  age  in 
the  Assembly  of  Divines  Cattechisme  or  some  other  orthodox 
cattechisme  on  the  Sabboth  Dayes,"  and  also  "recommended 
to  the  ministers  to  keepe  a  lecture  weekly  ....  in  each 
county  as  they  shall  agree."" 

These  proclamations  were  repeated  often  ;  that  of  October 
1683,  being  especially  earnest  in  declaring  it 

'*  Evident  to  all  whoe  observe  the  footsteps  of  Divine  prov- 
dence  that  the  dispensation  of  God  toward  his  poore  wilder- 
ness people  have  been  very  solemne,  awfull  and  speakeing  for 
many  yeares  past,  and  perticularly  toward  oi'selves  in  this 
colony  the  present  yeare  by  reason  of  general!  sickness  in 
most  places  and  more  than  ordinary  mortality  in  some,  as 
allso  excessive  rains  and  floods,"  and  also  in  the  "  bereave- 
ment of  so  many  churches  of  a  settled  ministry."  '■■ 

These  efforts  of  magistrates  and  ministers  were  not  with- 
out some  considerable  measure  of  benefit.  The  recommend- 
ations of  the  Court,  in  1680  especially,  resulted  in  "county 
meetings  of  the  ministers  every  week  "  for  years  after,  and 
seem  also  to  have  done  much  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
more  organized  ecclesiastical  establishment  of  the  future.'' 
Something  we  need  not  hesitate  to  call  revivals  of  religion, 
however  imperfect  the  standard  of  estimate,  from  time  to 
time  appeared. 

Such  an  experience  came  to  this  Hartford  Church  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1695-6.  It  was  at  a  period  of  general 
alarm  on  account  of  Indian  disturbances  along  the  Con- 
necticut river  in  Hampshire  County  in  Massachusetts. 
The  crops  of  the  previous  season  had  been  cut  off ;  of 
which  one  indication  remains  upon  the  Society's  record  of 
December  26,  1695,  "Mr.  Woodbridge  abated  by  reason  of 


^'  Col.  Rec,  iii,  pp.  64-65. 
^^Ibid,  pp.  131-132. 
>9  Trumbull,'!,  p.  480. 


248  '^'HE    FIRST    CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

the  badness  of  the  year  Ten  pounds  of  his  sallery."  The 
community  was  obviously  under  unusual  religious  impression; 
so  that  on  Sunday,  February  23,  1696 — doubtless  in  the 
presence  of  the  gathered  congregation — sixty-eight  persons, 
thirty-three  males  and  thirty-five  females,  gave  assent  to  the 
Covenant.'"  On  Sunday,  March  8th,  eighty-three  more, 
thirty-nine  males  and  forty-four  females,  took  the  same  Cov- 


'■"^  The  Covenant  which  was  on  this  occasion  subscribed  to,  is  the  earliest  of 
the  forms  which  are  preserved  in  the  history  of  this  Church.  It  is  as  follows: 
"  We  do  solemnly  in  y*  presence  of  God  and  this  Congregation  avouch  God  in 
Jesus  Christ  to  be  our  God  one  God  in  three  persons  y"  Father  y«  Son  &  y" 
Holy  Ghost  &  y'  we  are  by  nature  childr"  of  wrath  &  y'  our  hope  of  Mercy  with 
God  is  only  thro'  y*"  righteousnesse  of  Jesus  Christ  apprehended  by  faith  &  we 
do  freely  give  up  ourselves  to  y"  Lord  to  walke  in  communion  with  him  in  y® 
ordinances  appointed  in  his  holy  word  &  to  yield  obedience  to  all  his  coihands 
&  submit  to  his  governm.'  Sz  wheras  to  y"  great  dishon''  of  God,  Scandall  of  Re- 
ligion &  hazard  of  y"  damnation  of  Souls,  y*'  Sins  of  drunkenness  &  fornication 
are  Prevailing  amongst  us  we  do  Solemly  engage  before  God  this  day  thro  his 
grace  faithfully  and  conscientiously  to  strive  against  those  Evills  and  y"  temp- 
tations that  May  lead  thereto."  This  is  in  Mr.  Woodbridge's  hand.  But  this 
form  of  Covenant  was  probably  a  new  one,  drawn  up  by  him  in  view  of  the 
then  prevalent  interest  and  the  then  "  Prevailing  "  sins;  for  his  record  for  ten 
years  previous  shows,  from  the  earliest  date  of  his  ministry,  the  clear  distinction 
between  the  Covenanting  and  Full  Communion  members.  And  it  is  the  more 
strange  that  Dr.  Hawes  (in  his  T7-ibute  to  the  Memory  of  the  Pilgrims,  p.  122) 
should  have  fallen  into  Dr.  Trumbull's  error  of  saying  that  the  half-way- 
covenant  was  "not  adopted  by  a  single  church  in  this  State  till  1696";  when 
this  record  book  of  his  own  Church,  on  every  page  of  ten  years  antecedent  to 
that  time,  shows  the  contrar\'.     See,  also,  ante,  pp.  204  and  207  and  )iotes  thereto. 

The  Covenant  owned  in  the  days  of  Mr.  Woodbridge's  two  successors.  Wads- 
worth  and  Dorr,  reads  thus  :  "  You  do  solemnly  in  the  presence  of  God  and 
before  this  Congregation  avouch  god  in  Christ,  to  be  your  god,  one  god  in  3 
persons,  father,  son  and  holy  ghost  and  professing  that  you  believe  the  Holy 
Scriptures  to  be  y^  Word  of  god  you  promise  thro  y"^  assistance  of  divine  grace 
to  make  them  the  rule  of  your  life,  and  acknowledging  yourself  by  nature  a  Child 
of  wrath,  your  hope  of  mercy  with  god  is  only  thro  y'^  righteousness  of  Christ 
apprehended  by  faith,  you  do  also  give  up  yourself  (and  yours)  to  the  Lord, 
promising  to  Submitt  unto  the  rule  and  government  of  Christ  in  his  Church." 
This  is  in  the  hand  of  Rev.  Daniel  Wadsworth.  The  only  variation  of  this 
formula  {in  Wadsworth's  and  Dorr^s  time,  however  it  may  have  been  before)  in 
the  case  of  the  Full  Communion  membership,  is  the  incorporation  into  it  of  the 
promise  "carefully  to  observe  and  attend  ui^on  y  Ordinances  and  Institutions 
of  the  gospel." 


1683-1732.]  TIMOTHY    WOODBRIDGE.  249 

enant.  So  on  Sunday,  March  15th,  twenty-eight  others; 
March  22d,  twelve  more;  and  April  5th,  three;  in  all  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-four,  an  equal  number  of  each  sex.  It  is, 
however,  a  painful  commentary  on  the  imperfection,  perhaps 
of  the  reviving  itself,  and  certainly  of  the  religious  system 
under  which  it  took  place,  that  on  the  Sunday  following  the 
last  above  mentioned,  when  those  admitted  to  "  full  commun- 
ion "  as  the  fruits  of  this  winter's  awakening  were  received, 
they  were  but  twelve. 

No  equivalent  religious  movement  seems  to  mave  marked 
any  subsequent  year  of  Mr.  Woodbridge's  long  pastorate, 
though  evidence  of  several  lesser  stirrings  of  the  religious 
pulse  remain;  but  always  with  much  the  same  disproportion  in 
result  between  those  who  "owned  the  covenant"  and  those 
admitted  to  "full  communion."  Three  hundred  and  sixteen 
persons  were  admitted  to  full  communion,  and  four  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  owned  the  covenant  in  the  pastorate  of 
Mr.  Woodbridge. 

Six  deacons  appear  to  have  been  chosen  to  oiifice  during 
Mr.  Woodbridge's  pastorate,  three  in  1691,  and  three  in  1712. 
The  electiOj|i  of  the  first  three  was  apparently  a  matter  of 
much  deliberation.  On  March  1 1,  1686,  there  was  "  proposed 
to  y^  Church  &  left  to  their  consideration  y  choice  of  two  fit 
persons  for  Deacons  out  of  these  proposed,  z'is,  Paul  Peck 
sen',  Joseph  Eason  Jun',  Daniel  Prat  sen'",  Nathaniell  Good- 
wine  sen'",  &  John  Richards."  Who  "  proposed  "  these  can- 
didates is  uncertain,  whether  the  Pastor  or  the  brethren. 
But  action  was  not  taken  till  April  23,  1691,  when  "  Paul 
Peck  sen',  Joseph  Easton  &  Joseph  Olmstead  were  chosen 
Deacons."  Parents,  however,  had  their  trials  then  as  now. 
At  the  same  meeting  when  Paul  Peck,  Sr.,  was  chosen  dea- 
con, Paul  Peck,  Jr.,  was  "judged  incorrigible  in  his  sin  of 
32 


250  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

drunkenness,"  and  was  excommunicated.  No  record  of  for- 
mality about  the  choice  of  John  Sheldon,  John  Shepard,  and 
Thomas  Richards  remains. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  Colony  to  the  opening  years  of 
1700,  the  settlers  on  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut  River 
at-  Hartford  had  attended  worship,  paid  their  church  rates, 
and  buried  their  dead  on  this  side.  In  May  1694  they  peti- 
tioned the  General  Court  to  have  the  "  liberty  of  a  minister  " 
among  themselves.  The  Court  commended  the  subject  to 
the  consideration  of  the  Fir^  and  Second  Societies  in  Hart- 
ford, where  the  east-siders  worshiped,  expressing  the  hope 
of  a  "  good  agreement  "  in  the  premises."'  The  Societies,  on 
the  5th  of  October,  "considered  the  motion,"  declared  they 
"prize  the  good  company"  of  their  east-side  friends,  and 
"  cannot  without  their  help  well  and  comfortably  carry  on  or 
mayntaine  the  ministry  in  the  two  societies  here;"  remind 
them  that  the  difficulty  they  complained  of  in  coming  over 
the  river  was  one  "  they  could  not  but  forsee  before  they  set- 
tled where  they  are;"  but,  all  things  considered,  they  would 
consent,  provided 

"That  those  of  the  good  people  of  the  east  sic^  that  desire 
to  continue  with  us  of  the  west  side  shall  so  doe,  and  that  all 
the  land  on  the  east  that  belongs  to  any  of  the  people  on  the 
west  side  shall  pay  to  the  ministry  of  the  v/est  side;  and  that 
all  of  the  land  of  the  west  side  shall  pay  to  the  ministry  of 
the  west  side  though  it  belongs  to  the  people  of  the  east 
side." 

This  not  very  cordial  permission  the  Court  ratified,'"  and 
granted  liberty  to  procure  an  orthodox  minister  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river.  The  east-side  people  could  not  at  once 
procure  their  minister  and  set  up  their  establishment,  and 

■'  Col.  Records^  iv,  p.  127. 
^^  Col.  Rec,  iv,  pp.  136-137. 


16S3-1732]  TIMOTHY    WOODBRTDGE.  25 1 

more  or  less  friction  ensued.  The  First  Society  on  Decem- 
ber 27,  1699,  tried  to  ameliorate  matters  by  voting  that  "the 
Inhabitants  belonging  to  the  Society  on  the  East  Side  the 
Great  River  shall  pay  Ten  pounds  of  the  Hundred  pounds 
granted  to  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  no  more." "' 

But  by  1702,  the  east-siders  having  made  strenuous  efforts 
to  build  a  meeting-house,  and  to  raise  money  for  the  clerical 
services  of  Rev.  John  Read,  who  temporarily  served  them  in 
the  ministry,  the  Court  peremptorily  interposed  and  ordered 
that  all  persons  on  the  east  side  should  pay  to  the  young 
society  there,  "  any  former  lavve  or  usage  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding." Certain  persons  who  had  been  accustomed 
to  come  over  to  the  west  side  did  not  like  this,  and  petitioned 
the  Court  to  be  allowed  to  pay  to  the  west  side  as  formerly. 
Two  of  them,  Solomon  Andrews  and  Thomas  Warren,  re- 
fused to  pay  their  east-side  church  rates  ;  and  the  east-side 
collectors  levied  on  Andrews'  brass-kettle,  and  a  horse  belong- 
ing to  Warren.  Time,  however,  settled  the  controversy,  and 
March  30,  1705,  saw  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Samuel  Wood- 
bridge — a  nephew  of  Timothy,  of  the  First  Church — over 
the  church  and  society  of  East  Hartford.  The  date  of  the 
church-organization  as  a  body,  ecclesiastically  distinct  from 
the  First  Church,  it  seems  impossible  exactly  to  determine. 

Mr.  Woodbridge  was  a  large  and  strong  man  and  lived  to 
good  old  age,  but  a  considerable  part  of  the  year  1701,  and 
the  whole  of  the  year  1702,  he  was  absent  from  Hartford, 
apparently  ill,  in  Boston.  The  Society,  on  January  2,  1702  : 
"  Voated  that  when  Mr.  Timothy  Woodbridg  shall  Judg 
himselfe  to  be  able  &  Capable  of  Travailing  home  from  Bos- 
ton (where  he  now  is)  that  then  there  shall  be  sent  Two  men 
to  Boston  ....  to  wayt  vppon  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  help 
him  home." 


•23  first  Society  Records. 


252  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [16S3-1732. 

On  the  19th  of  the  following  November,  Mr.  Woodbridge 
being  still  absent,  the  Society  appointed 

"  Mr.  Willys,  John  Haynes,  Capt.  Stanly,  Capt.  Nicols, 
Capt  Wadsworth  and  Lieut  Joseph  Tallcott  a  Committy  to 
Wright  a  Suitable  Letter  and  signe  it  in  the  Name  of  the 
Society  to  their  Revd  pastor  Mr.  Timothy  Woodbridg  to 
Condole  with  him  under  the  sorrowfull  sircumstances  whith 
the  providence  of  God  hath  Layed  him  vnder  By  the  sepa- 
ration made  By  his  absence  from  them." 

This  procedure  the  Church  seconded  by  a  similar  vote 
empowering  Mr.  Willys,  Captain  Stanly,  Captain  Cooke,  and 
Mr.  Tallcott,  to  "  wright  a  Louing  and  suitable  Letter"  to 
Mr.  Woodbridge  "  to  desire  his  speedy  Returne  to  his  work 
in  the  ministry."  January  5,  1 703,  arriving,  and  the  Pastor 
still  absent,  the  Society 

"  Made  Choice  off  Mr.  John  Haynes  &  Capt  Nicholls  or 
either  of  them  with  some  other  Suitable  person  to  goe  with 
them  as  soone  as  possibly  they  Could  to  desire  the  Rev.  Mr, 
Timothy  Woodbridg  to  Returne  ....  and  to  accompany 
him  home  from  Boston." 

February  found  him  back,  for  on  the  23d  of  that  month 
the  Society 

"  Did  grant  to  Mr.  Timothy  Woodbridg  as  a  gratuity  and 
ffree  guift  the  sum  of  fforty  pounds  in  Countrey  pay  .... 
and  the  Horse-Saddle  and  Bridle  Bought  att  Boston  to  bring 
the  s''  Mr.  Woodbridg;  Home.""' 


23 "Capt.  Nichols  and  Mr.  Ephraim  Turner"  finally  went  for  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge,  and  were  paid  by  the  Society  for  the  service  two  shillings  a  day  "  for  21 
days  besides  the  Sabaths."  They  paid  at  Boston  ;i^5  los.  for  the  "  Horse  Bri- 
dle &  Sadie  "  for  Mr.  Woodbridge's  use. 

The  only  clue  to  the  nature  and  degree  of  Mr.  Woodbridge's  disability  is, 
perhaps,  a  statement  in  a  letter  of  Judge  Sewall  to  Rev.  James  Pierpont  of 
New  Haven,  dated  at  Boston,  October  29,  1701,  and  certain  entries  in  Sewall's 
diary.  In  the  letter  he  says  "  Mr.  Timothy  Woodbridge  remains  here  lame  by 
reason  of  a  humor  fallen  into  his  right  leg."  In  his  diary  he  speaks  of  dining, 
on  October  i,  1702,  "  with  Mr.  Increase   Mather  and  Mr.  Tim"  Woodbridge  ;" 


1683-1732-]  TIMOTHY    WOODBRIDGE.     -  253 

Meantime  the  pulpit  was  supplied,  more  or  less  regularly, 
"att  Thirty  shillings  y*^^  Sabath,  .  .  Mr.  Nathaniell  Hub- 
berd "  '^*  being  paid  "  ffor  preathing  elleaven  Sabaths,  .  . 
Mr.  John  Reede"  ffor  preathing  Two  Sabaths,  and  Mr. 
Ephrim  Woodbridg"''  ffor  preathing  14  Sabaths,  .  .  for  all 
which  sums  those  Three  gentlemen  have  partiqueler  ac- 
coumpts." 

There  is  ample  evidence  that  Mr.  Woodbridge  occupied 
a  commanding  position  as  a  minister  in  the  Colony. 
He  drafted "  the  Address  to  King  William,   found  in   Co/. 


and  says  that  on  "  Jany.  27  [1703]  Mr.  Tim"  Woodbridge  Prayd  at  the  opening 
of  the  Court  at  Charleston ;  but  dines  not  with  us."  Woolsey's  Historical 
Discourse,  p.  91,  and  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  xxx,  pp.  66-72. 

'•^*  Nathaniel  Hubbard  was,  in  all  probability,  the  grandson  of  William  Hub- 
bard, the  historian.  Such  a  grandson  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1698  (a  suita- 
ble date  for  the  service  in  question),  but  he  became  a  lawyer  and  judge  in  Mas- 
sachusetts and  died  in  1748.  Perhaps  he,  like  John  Read,  essayed  preaching 
awhile.     No  other  Nathaniel  Hubbard  seems  to  fit  the  case. 

2^  John  Read  or  Reed  was  a  man  of  eccentric  character  and  history.  He 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  about  1680;  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
1697  ;  preached  at  Waterbury  in  1699,  but  declined  settlement  there;  was  ad- 
mitted to  full  communion  in  the  First  Church  of  Hartford  November  12,  1697, 
and  awhile  after  preached  for  a  considerable  period  at  East  Hartford.  In  1703 
he  was  preaching  at  Stratford,  then  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
October  6, 1708.  He  purchased  lands  of  the  Indians  between  Fairfield  and  Dan- 
bury,  and  became  involved  in  extended  litigations.  He  removed  to  Boston  in 
1722,  and  rose  to  high  distinction  in  his  profession.  Was  several  times  chosen 
Attorney  General  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts.  James  Otis  called  him 
"  the  greatest  common  lawyer  this  country  ever  saw."  He  died  in  February, 
1749,  and  was  buried  in  King's  Chapel,  Boston.  His  wife  was  Ruth  Talcott, 
daughter  of  Col.  John  Talcott  of  Hartford,  and  sister  of  Governor  Joseph 
Talcott.  See  Knapp's  Biographical  Sketches,  and  Sketch-  of  John  Read, hy 
George  B.  Reed,  Boston,  1879. 

'■'''Ephraim  Woodbridge  was  nephew  of  Rev.  Timothy;  born  1680,  graduated 
at  Harvard   College   1701,  became  minister  at  Groton  in  1704,  died  December 

I.  1725- 

^'  The  accomplished  editor  of  the  first  three  volumes  of  Conn.  Col.  Records 
gives  the  draughtmanship  of  this  paper  (iii,  p.  254)  to  John  Allyn.  But  the 
present  writer  joins  with  Mr.  C.  J.  Hoadly,  State  Librarian,  in  thinking  the 
writing  is  not  Allyn's,  and  is  Woodbridge's.  There  is  collateral  evidence  of 
Mr.  Woodbridge's  concernment  in  the  public  events  then  occurring,  which  ren- 
ders his  action  in  this  case  the  more  probable. 


254  ^^^^^    FIRST    CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

Records,  iii,  p.  463-6  and  in  Trumbull's  History  of  Connecticut, 
i'  P-  537~40.  He  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  in 
May  1703,  in  association  with  Rev.  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  "to 
draw  up  the  addresse  to  her  Majestie  and  the  letter  to  Lord 
Cornbury ;  "  ■"  he  was,  in  1704,  one  of  a  board  of  arbitration 
between  the  Treasurer  of  the  Colony  and  Wm.  Goodwin  and 
Saml.  Steele,  "constables  of  Hartford  for  the  year  1698  ;"'■" 
and  in  1705  was  one  of  a  "  Comittee  in  behalfe  of  the  govern- 
ment to  consider  of  the  complaints  laid  against  this  Colonie 
in  England,  and  to  furnish  our  agent  in  England  with  what 
directions  or  informations  they  can  in  order  to  answer  said 
complaints."  "'  He  preached  the  Election  Sermon  before 
the  Assembly  on  May  12,  1698,  and  again  on  May  11,  1724, 
the  latter  of  which  was  printed,  "'  and  is  written  in  a  style 
of  more  than  ordinarily  modern  tone. 

"The  Doctrine''  of  the  discourse  "is  That  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  doth  actually  reign  on  the  Earth.  He  hath  from  the 
time  of  the  Fall  of  Man  exerted  His  Mediatorial  power,  and 
the  whole  world  doth  dayly  Partake  of  the  Benefits  and 
Effects  of  it." 

In  the  course  of  his  remarks  the  preacher,  who  at  the  time 
of  delivering  this  sermon  was  an  aged  man,  says  : 

"  I  must  recommend  to  Religious  and  Compassionating 
care  the  encouraging  and  supporting  the  Education  of  the 
Indian  Children.  There  is  such  a  successful  beginning  made 
that  it  is  matter  of  Admiration  to  those  that  have  enquired 
into  it,  and  the  very  Indians  have  expressed  themselves  to 
this  Effect,  '  tJiat  there  appears  the  Hand  of  God  in  it!  " 

This  reference  is  probably  to  the  school  at  Farmington, 
where  the  number  of  Indian  pupils  was  "  sometimes  fifteen 


^»  Cot.  Rec,  iv,  p.  42S. 

29  nid,  p.  479- 

so  Ibid,  p.  520. 

•^' A''.  Londoti,  T.  Giren,  1727,  sm.  8vo,  p.  33. 


1683-1732-]  WOODBRIDGE   AND    THE   COLLEGE.  255 

or  sixteen,"  '"  and  to  the  support  of  which  the  Colony  in 
1733-4  and  6,  made  appropriations  "  for  dieting  of  the  Indian 
lads  at  4  shillings  per  week." 

Possibly  something  of  Mr.  Woodbridge's  interest  in  this 
matter  of  Indian-children  education  may  have  been  derived 
from  observation  in  his  own  household.  On  the  loth  of 
August  171 1  he  baptized  an  Indian  boy,  apparently  appren- 
ticed to  him,  and  made  this  entry  in  the  Church  record  : 

Baptized  "John  Waubin  my  Indian  servant.  I  publickly 
engaged  that  I  would  take  care  he  should  be  brought  up  in 
the  Christian  Religion.     T.  Woodbridge."  " 

Educational  interests  seem  always  to  have  had  a  large 
share  in  Mr.  Woodbridge's  concern,  and  his  loyalty  at  once 
to  the  College  and  to  Hartford  led  to  one  of  the  most  picto- 
rial and  perhaps  one  of  the  most  troublesome  passages  of 
his  history. 

The  design  of  a  College  in  the  Colony  had  been  early  con- 
cieved.     The  distance  of  Harvard  and  the  difficulty  of  travel, 


"^  Trumbull,  i,  p.  469. 

33 In  Mr.  Woodbridge's  will,  dated  April  i,  1732,  he  bequeaths  "the  Improve- 
ment of  John  Waubin  during  the  time  he  is  bound  to  serve  me."  As  this  was 
within  a  few  months  of  twenty-one  years  later,  John  Waubin  must  have  been  a 
very  small  Indian  at  baptism,  or  the  indentures  must  some  way  have  been 
renewed. 

It  may  here  be  noticed  that  Mr.  Woodbridge  had  a  variegated  household. 
Added  to  the  Indian  element  in  it,  was  another  of  a  still  different  color,  as  is 
witnessed  by  at  least  two  transactions  on  the  Hartford  town  records.  One 
bears  date  July  15,  1723 :  "  We  Timothy  Woodbridge  and  Abigail  his  wife  in 
Consideration  of  y*  sum  of  fifty-Six  pounds  of  Good  and  Lawful  money  .  . 
have  bargained,  Sold,  Sett  over  and  Delivered  in  plain  and  open  Market  .  . 
unto  Elizabeth  Wilson  a  Negro  Boy  named  Thorn  about  thirteen  years  of  age." 
The  other  is  dated  July  16,  1723,  and  declares  that,  "I  Elizabeth  Wilson  .-. 
in  Consideration  of  y*^  Natural  Love  and  Parental  affection  I  have  and  do  bear 
toward  my  daughter  Abigail  Woodbridge  .  .  have  Given,  Sold,  Sett  over 
and  delivered  to  my  said  daughter  Abigail  Woodbridge  .  .  a  Negro  Eoy 
named  Tom,  to  Have  and  to  Hold  .  .  as  her  own  proper  Estate,  Provided 
that  my  said  Daughter  when  she  comes  to  dispose  of  said  Negro,  shall  give  him 
to  one  of  her  sons,  as  she  Shall  think  best  to  bestow  Such  a  Gift  upon." 


256  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

not  to  speak  of  certain  jealousies  between  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts — whereof  sensible  consciousness  survives  to 
this  day — had  led  to  the  frequent  pondering  of  the  problem 
of  a  College  nearer  by.  In  ministerial  circles  this  desire 
indicated  itself,  in  1698,  in  "  sundry  meetings  and  consulta- 
tions," at  which  it  was  proposed  "  that  a  College  should  be 
erected  by  a  general  Synod  "  of  the  Connecticut  churches. 
As  a  result  of  these  consultations,  "  ten  of  the  principal 
ministers  of  the  Colony  were  nominated "  by  the  "  lesser 
Conventions  of  ministers,  .  .  and  in  private  Conversa- 
tion .  .  as  Trustees  or  Undertakers  .  .  to  found  erect 
and  govern  a  College."  '^  These  gentlemen  were  James 
Noyes  of  Stonington,  Israel  Chauncy  of  Stratford,  Thomas 
Buckingham  of  Saybrook,  Abraham  Pierson  of  Killingworth, 
Samuel  Mather  of  Windsor,  Sanmel  Andrew  of  Milford, 
Timothy  Woodbridge  of  Hartford,  James  Pierpont  of  New 
Haven,  Noadiah  Russell  of  Middletown,  and  Joseph  Webb 
of  Fairfield.  Tradition  has  it  that  these  men  met  at  Bran- 
ford  in  1700,  and  laid  a  number  of  books  upon  a  table,  say- 
ing :  "  I  give  these  books  for  the  founding  of  a  College  in 
this  Colony."  Mr.  Russell  of  Branford  was  appointed  Libra- 
rian. A  charter  was  procured  from  the  General  Assembly 
on  October  9,  1701,  and  the  Trustees,  meeting  at  Saybrook 
on  the  nth  of  November  following,  made  choice  of  Rev, 
Abraham  Pierson  as  Rector,  and  added  Rev.  Samuel  Rus- 
sell to  the  number  of  the  Trustees  to  complete  the  maximum 
of  eleven  prescribed  by  the  charter.  The  Trustees  at  this 
meeting  indicated  their  desire  that  Saybrook  should  be  the 
location  of  the  College,  but  till  the  Rector  could  remove 
thither  the  scholars  should  be  instructed  at  or  near  the  Rec- 
tor's house  at  Killingworth.     In  point  of  fact  the  Rector  did 


'  Clap's  Hist.  Yale  College,  pp.  2-3. 


1683-1732.]  WOODBRIDGE   AND   THE   COLLEGE.  257 

not  remove,  and  the  College  remained  at  Killingworth  till 
Mr.  Pierson's  death,  March  5,  1707.  The  first  Commence- 
ment exercises  were,  however,  held  at  Saybrook  in  1702. 

On  Mr.  Pierson's  death,  Rev.  Samuel  Andrews  of  Milford, 
was  chosen  Rector,  and  the  senior  class  was  removed  to  his 
town,  to  be  under  his  immediate  care ;  while  the  other 
classes  were  removed  to  Saybrook,  the  place  originally 
selected  as  the  location  of  the  College.  Here  at  Saybrook, 
under  the  instruction  of  "two  Tutors,"  with  "Students  about 
twenty  in  number."  the  College  remained  "about  seven 
years."'" 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  at  Saybrook,  on  the  4th 
of  April,  1716,  the  students  entered  complaints  of  inadequate 
instruction,  and  inconvenience  in  their  accommodations. 
They  alleged  they  could  be  just  as  well  taught,  and  much 
more  conveniently  situated,  nearer  their  own  homes.  The 
Trustees  debated  the  matter,  without  arriving  at  any  fixed 
conclusion;  but,  as  a  measure  of  temporary  expedience, 
allowed  the  scholars,  till  the  next  commencement,  to  go  to 
such  places  "as  should  best  suit  their  inclinations."'"  Four- 
teen of  them  inclined  to  Wethersfield,  where  they  put  them- 
selves under  the  tutorship  of  Rev.. Elisha  Williams  ;  thirteen 
went  to  New  Haven,  and  four  stayed  at  Saybrook  till  a 
scare  about  the  small-pox  drove  them  to  East  Guilford. 

But  the  disquiet  of  the  students,  indicated  in  the  action  of 
the  April  meeting,  had  deeper  causes  than  were  expressed. 
The  real  question  was  the  permanent  location  of  the  College. 
The  institution,  though  graduating  fifty-three  students  be- 
tween 1702  and  1716,  was  obviously  in  a  "broken"  state, 
and  far  from  happily  situated,  with  a  Rector  and  senior  class 


^  Ibid,  p.  1 5. 

^  Trumbull,  ii,  23. 

33 


258  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [16S3-1732. 

in  one  place,  and  two  Tutors  and  the  lower  class  in  another 
place,  forty  miles  away.  In  this  state  of  affairs,  the  site  of 
the  College  interested  and  divided  the  public  mind.  Some 
were  for  continuing  it  at  Saybrook,  others  for  removing  it  to 
New  Haven,  while  still  a  third  party  in  interest  were  for 
bringing  it  to  Hartford  or  Wethersfield. 

Returning  from  the  April  meeting  in  17 16,  Mr.  Woodbridge 
and  Mr.  Buckingham,  of  the  Second  Church — who  had,  it  is 
believed,  been  chosen  a  Trustee  in  1715,  to  fill  the  place 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Rev.  James  Pierpont  of  New 
Haven — took  the  certainly  rather  extraordinary  step  of  lay- 
ing a  petition  before  the  General  Assembly,  in  May,  setting 
forth  the  "present  declining  and  unhappy  circumstances"  of 
the  school ;  suggesting  the  removal  of  it  to  Hartford  ;  and 
proposing  several  arguments  why  such  a  removal  would  be 
expedient — as  that  "  Hartford  is  more  in  the  centre  of  the 
Colony  ; "  that  "  six  or  seven  hundred  pounds  "  had  been 
subscribed  for  the  purpose ;  and  that  students  of  "  the 
neighboring  Province"  of  Massachusetts  had  been  prom- 
ised." The  Assembly  summoned  the  Trustees  to  consider 
the  matter.  Some  appeared,  and  persuaded  the  legislature 
to  postpone  consideration  of  Mr.  Woodbridge's  and  Mr. 
Buckingham's  petition  until  the  Trustees  held  their  regular 
annual  meeting.  They  met  at  Saybrook,  Sept.  12th,  and 
not  being  able  to  agree,  adjourned  to  New  Haven,  to  Oct. 
17th. 

At  this  meeting  in  October,  eight  Trustees  were  present ; 
five  of  them  voted  to  remove  the  College  to  New  Haven  ; 
one  favored  its  continuance  at  Saybrook,  but,  if  removed, 
chose  New  Haven  as  the  site ;  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  Mr. 
Buckingham  voted  for  Wethersfield.     Two  Trustees   were 


"■^  Col.  Rec,  V,  550-551. 


1683-1732-]  WOODBRIDGE   AND   THE   COLLEGE.  259 

absent ;  one  was  bed-ridden,  the  other  was  known  to  be  in 
favor  of  New  Haven. 

The  majority  was  clearly  for  the  change.  Two  Tutors 
were  elected,  and  measures  undertaken  to  erect  a  building  at 
New  Haven.  The  senior  class  was  put  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes,  minister  of  the  church  there.  But 
the  students  participated  in  the  divided  public  sentiment,  and 
nearly  half  of  them  remained  at  Wethersfield,  and  a  few  at 
Saybrook.  The  agitation  continued.  A  public  meeting  at 
Hartford  was  held  December  i8th,  17 16,  and  resolutions 
adopted  calling  on  the  representatives  in  the  Assembly  to 
appeal  from  the  action  of  the  Trustees,  to  the  legislature. 
In  April  following,  the  Trustees,  by  a  vote  of  six,  re-enacted 
their  choice  of  New  Haven,  made  the  October  before. 
Mr.  Woodbridge  and  Mr.  Buckingham,  backed  by  the  local 
sentiment  about  them,  presented  a  remonstrance  to  the 
Assembly,  in  May,  declaring  the  transferrence  of  the  College 
to  New  Haven  to  be  irregular  and  illegal,  and  in  violation  of 
certain  agreements  made  among  the  Trustees.  Sundry  in- 
habitants of  Hartford  seconded  the  memorials  of  the  two 
dissatisfied  remonstrants.  The  Assembly  disagreed  on  the 
subject  of  the  memorial.  The  lower  House  voted  to  call  the 
Trustees  before  them  to  give  account  of  the  transfer;  the 
upper  House  negatived  the  proposal.'"  Things  drifted  on 
till  October,  when  the  subject  came  up  again  in  the  Assem- 
bly, "the  lower  House  in  something  of  a  passion,'"'  calHng 
the  Trustees  before  them,  and  enquiring  on  what  authority 
they  had  "ordered  a  collegiate  school  built  at  New  Haven." 
The  same  branch  of  the  Assembly  also  proceeded  to  vote  on 
the  question  of  a  locality  for  the  College,  as  if  it  had  not 


'  Dr.  Woolsey's  Historical  Discourse,  p.  18. 
'  Ibid,  p.  19. 


26o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.         [1683-1732. 

already  been  legally  determined,  and  as  if  it  were  a  matter 
under  their  control ;  Saybrook  having  six  votes,  Middletown 
thirty-five,  and  New  Haven  thirty-two.  The  upper  House, 
influenced,  it  is  believed,  largely  by  Governor  Saltonstall, 
declared  that  the  matter  had  already  been  legally  settled, 
and  that  the  objections  of  the  remonstrating  Trustees  were 
frivolous.  Ultimately  it  appears,  from  a  contemporary  man- 
uscript, that  the  upper  House,  after  listening  to  argument  on 
the  subject  from  Mr.  Davenport  of  Stamford,  agreed,  unani- 
mously, to  recommend  the  Trustees  to  go  on  at  New  Haven  ; 
and  the  lower  House,  dividing  on  the  question,  voted  in  the 
same  way  by  a  majority  of  six;  so  "the  up  river  party  had 
their  will  in  having  the  school  settled  by  the  Generall 
Court,  though  sorely  against  their  will  at  New  Haven."'" 

Partly  to  compensate  the  "up  river  party"  for  their  disap- 
pointment about  the  College,  the  Assembly  voted  an  appro- 
priation of  ;^8oo,  to  be  raised  by  sale  of  public  lands,  for  an 
Assembly  and  Court  House  at  Hartford. 

The  up-river  party  were  hard  to  console,  however.  In  the 
May  following,  the  lower  House  of  the  Assembly  voted  on  the 
matter  once  again,  proposing  that  the  College  commence- 
ments be  held  alternately  at  New  Haven  and  at  Wethers- 
field  till  the  place  of  the  school  should  be  fully  determined. 
The  upper  House  voted  that  it  was  determined  already. 

This  was  the  last  of  the  struggle,  so  far  as  the  legislature 
was  concerned.  But  the  two  Hartford  Trustees  were  still 
militant.  Commencement  day  came.  President  Clap  says,^' 
on  "  Sept.  12,  1718,  there  was  a  Splendid  Commencement  at 
New  Haven."  He  rehearses  in  glowing  terms  the  grandeur 
of  the  occasion,  the  dignity  of  the  personages  present,  the 


*^  Ibid,  p.  20.     See  also  Col.  Rec,  vi,  30,  and  note. 
'^'^  History  Yale  College,  pp.  24-25. 


1683-1732-]  WOODBRIDGE   AND   THE   COLLEGE.  261 

nobleness  of  the  addresses  in  celebration  of  the  endowment 
given  by  Elihu  Yale,  and  concludes  the  narrative  of  the 
event  by  the  statement  that  "the  Honorable  Governor 
Saltonstall  was  pleased  to  Grace  and  Crown  the  whole 
Solemnity  with  an  elegant  Latin  Oration." 

President  Clap  then  goes  on  to  say,  that  on  the  same  day 
when  these  august  proceedings  were  in  progress  at  New 
Haven, 

"  Something  like  a  Commencement  was  carried  on  at 
Wethersfield  before  a  large  Number  of  Spectators  ;  five 
Scholars  who  were  Originally  of  the  Class  which  now  took 
their  Degrees  at  New  Haven  performed  publick  Exercises  ; 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  acted  as  Moderator,  and  he  and 
Mr.  Buckingham  and  other  Ministers  present  signed  Certifi- 
cates, that  they  judged  them  to  be  worthy  of  the  Degree  of 
Batchelor  of  Arts ;  these  Mr.  Woodbridge  delivered  to  them 
in  a  formal  Manner  in  the  Meeting-House,  which  was  com- 
monly taken  and  represented  as  giving  them  their  Degrees."  " 

Obviously  the  up  river  party  was  a  good  deal  excited. 
The  general  feeling  of  the  community  seems  to  have  sup- 
ported the  two  dissentient  Trustees  in  their  course.  The 
following  year,  1719,  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  Mr.  Buckingham 
were  chosen  town-representatives  to  the  Assembly.  Mr. 
Woodbridge  prayed  at  the  opening  of  the  session  on  the 
14th  of  May;  but  on  the  i8th  an  "information"  was  made 
•  by  a  down-river  member  that  he  had  "  charged  the  Honora- 
ble the  Governor  and  Council  in  that  matter  of  Saybrook 
with  the  breach  of  the  6^''  and  8"'  commandments." 

The  next  day  the  House  voted  that  the  charge  was  suffi- 
ciently sustained  to  exclude  him  from  his  seat  as  a  member. 
But  on  Mr.  Woodbridge's  presentation  of  the  case,  in  a  paper 
signed    by   him,    the   lower    House    acquitted    him   of   the 

*2//^/y,  pp.. 27-28. 


262  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

charge  of  defaming  his  Majesty's  government.  The  upper 
House  apparently  hesitated,  and  sent  down  a  message 
appointing  a  further  hearing  of  Mr.  Woodbridge's  defence. 
Here  the  track  is  lost,  and  the  after  progress  of  the  affair  is 
unknown." 

What  phase  of  that  "  matter  at  Saybrook "  it  was,  which 
prompted  Mr.  Woodbridge's  irreverent  speech — whether  the 
whole  matter  of  removal,  or  the  particular  transaction  of  the 
December  previous,  when  the  forcible  carrying  off  the  books 
of  the  College  from  Saybrook  was  the  occasion  of  a  public 
riot — it  is  perhaps  impossible  to  say.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  Mr.  Woodbridge  shared  to  some  extent  the  excited 
feelings  of  the  Saybrook  people,  v/ho  so  far  resisted  the 
removal  of  the  library,  that  the  doors  of  the  building  where 
the  volumes  were  kept  had  to  be  broken  in  ;  the  wagons 
conveying  them  were  assailed ;  bridges  along  the  road  were 
torn  down,  "  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  most  valuable 
books  and  sundry  Papers  of  Importance  were  lost."  " 

Gradually,  however,  the  excitement  abated.  The  Trustees 
of  the  College  chose  Mr.  Williams  of  Wethersfield  a  Tutor, 
and  opened  the  way  for  the  regular  enrollment  in  the  class 
list  of  the  "five  scholars"  who  had  figured  in  the  "something 
like  a  Commencement  at  Wethersfield."  Dr.  Trumbull  sug- 
gests that  the  two  rebellious  members  of  the  Board  were  too 
"  important  characters  "  to  have  their  behavior  in  the  affair 
treated  as  severely  as  it  might  otherwise  have  been.*'  And 
ultimately.  President  Clap  records, 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  Mr.  Buckingkaiu  became 
very  friendly  to  the  College  at  New  Haven.     The  Trustees 


*s  Col.  Rec.^  vi,  p.  106. 

**  Woolsey's  Historical  Address,  p.  22,  and  Clap's  History,  pp.  28-29. 

*5  Trumbull,  ii,  p.  30. 


1683-1732-]  WOODBRIDGE  AND  THE  SAYBROOK  PLATFORM.    263 

in  Testimony  of  their  Friendship  and  Regard  to  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge  chose  him  Rector  pro  Tempore,  and  he  accordingly 
moderated  and  gave  Degrees  at  the  Commencement  Anno 
1723."  " 

Coincident  in  point  of  time  with  much  of  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge's  effort  in  behalf  of  the  College  was  his  activity  in 
another  very  important  Connecticut  interest — the  establish- 
ment and  maintenance  of  the  Consociational  system. 

The  depressed  and  disorderly  state  of  religious  affairs 
which  prevailed  throughout  the  Colony  about  the  time  of 
Mr.  Woodbridge's  accession  to  the  pastorate,  and  which  had 
already  been  made  the  subject  of  various  remedial  experi- 
ments of  a  legislative  and  ecclesiastical  character,  still  con- 
tinued. It  was  matter  of  common  recognition,  and  among 
the  best  men,  of  sorrow  and  alarm.  Inevitably  it  became 
the  topic  of  conference  and  suggestion  whenever  ministers 
assembled.  But  in  those  days  of  difficult  intercommunica- 
tion between  the  scattered  churches  of  the  province,  the 
Trustees  of  the  College  were  about  the  only  body  of  men 
clearly  representative  of  the  Colony  at  large  who  had  occa- 
sion or  opportunity  to  meet.  It  was  only  natural,  therefore, 
that  the  most  influential  proposal  to  attempt  the  redress  of 
existing  evils  should  originate  with  them ;  as  also  that  when 
the  endeavor  was  undertaken,  they  again  should  in  large 
measure  be  its  instruments.  At  a  meeting  of  the  College 
Trustees  at  Guilford,  March  17,  1703,  there  was  prepared  "a 
Circular  Letter  to  the  Ministers,  proposing  to  have  a  general 


*''  Clap,  p.  29.  This  was  the  Commencement  after  the  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler 
was,  by  vote  of  the  Trustees,  "  excused  from  all  further  services  as  Rector  of 
Yale  College,"  by  reason  of  his  having  avowed  Episcopalian  sentiments.  On 
which  occasion,  also,  the  Trustees  voted  that  all  future  Rectors  or  Tutors  in  the 
College  should  subscribe  the  Saybrook  Confession,  and  "  particularly  give  satis- 
faction to  them  of  the  soundness  of  their  faith  in  opposition  to  Arminian  and 
Prelatical  corruptions." 


264  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [16S3-1732. 

Synod  of  all  the  Churches  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  to 
give  their  joint  Consent  to  the  Confession  of  Faith  after  the 
Example  of  the  Synod  in  Boston  in  1680."  "  How  in  detail 
the  recommendation  was  met  by  the  ministers  cannot,  per- 
haps, be  determined ;  though  President  Clap,  who  is  the 
authority  for  the  proposal,  says  it  was  "  universally  accept- 
able." But  in  May  of  1708,  the  General  Assembly,  being  in 
session  at  Hartford,  after  rehearsing  how  they  were  "  sensi- 
ble of  the  defects  of  the  discipline  of  the  churches  of  this 
government  arising  from  the  want  of  a  more  explicite  assert- 
ing of  the  rules  given  for  that  end  in  the  holy  scriptures, 
from  which  would  arise  a  firm  establishment  amongst  our- 
selves, a  good  and  regular  issue  in  cases  subject  to  ecclesi- 
astical discipline,  glory  to  Christ  our  head  and  edification  to 
its  members,"  proceeded  to  "  ordein  and  require"  the  minis- 
ters and  "  such  messengers  as  the  churches  to  which  they 
belong  shall  see  cause  to  send  with  them,"  to  meet  in  their 
respective  county  towns  on  the  last  Monday  in  the  following 
June,  and  there  to  "  consider  and  agree  upon  those  methods 
and  rules  for  the  management  of  ecclesiastical  discipline 
which  by  them  shall  be  judged  agreeable  and  conformable  to 
the  word  of  God,"  and  to  appoint  delegates,  representative  of 
their  county  assemblies,  to  meet  at  Saybrook  at  the  "  next 
Commencement,"  to  "  compare  results "  and  draw  up  a 
general  "form  of  ecclesiastical  discipline,"  to  be  reported 
to  the  Assembly  for  consideration  in  October." 

The  procedures  of  the  county  meetings  do  not  survive  to 
us,  but  President  Clap  states,  that  "  the  churches  in  the 
several  Counties  met  .  .  and  assented  to  the  Westminster 
or  Savoy  Confessions,  and  drew  up  some  Rules  of  Ecclesias- 


^'^  Clap's  Hist.  Yale  Col.,  p.  12. 
*8  Col.  Rec,  V,  p.  51. 


1683-1732-]   WOODBRIDGE  AND  THE  SAYBROOK  PLATFORM.    265 

tical  Discipline.  .  .  Then  each  Council  chose  six  Dele- 
gates, that  is  three  Ministers  and  three  Messengers,  to  meet 
in  a  general  Synod."  If  this  statement  of  President  Clap  is 
correct,  and  he  certainly  wrote  at  a  period  when  knowledge 
on  the  matter  was  easily  accessible,  there  hardly  seems  to  be 
adequate  foundation  for  the  suggestion  of  a  very  eminent 
later  historian,  that  the  Synod  which  convened  at  Saybrook 
was  not  a  properly  representative  body  of  the  forty  churches 
of  Connecticut." 

The  constituent  bodies  were  four  in  number.  The  clerical 
delegation  was  full,  with  the  exception  that  Fairfield  County, 
which  never  was  suspected  of  lack  of  interest  in  the  Say- 
brook  system,  wanted  one  clerical  member;  while  New 
London  County,  where  opposition  to  the  Saybrook  system 
was  earliest  and  sharpest,  sent  more  laymen  than  any  other. 
That  nine  of  these  twelve  clerical  delegates  were  Trus- 
tees of  the  College,  was  plainly  a  matter  of  convenience, 
growing  out  of  the  legislative  call  of  the  Synod  at  the  time 
and  place  of  the  College  commencement ;  not  to  speak  of  the 
manifest  fact  that  the  College  Trustees  were,  as  a  body,  the 
foremost  ministers  of  the  Colony.  That  only  four  of  twelve 
possible  lay  delegates  responded  to  their  election  by  the  con- 
stituent bodies  and  presented  themselves  at  the  Synod,  is  a 
fact  explicable  on  quite  other  grounds  than  any  antecedent 
opposition  to  the  movement ;  evidence  of  which  at  this  stage 
of  procedure  seems  wanting. 

Hartford  County  sent  among  her  delegates  Timothy  Wood- 
bridge,  the  Pastor,  and  John  Haynes,  a  member  of  the  First 
Church.     Mr.  Haynes  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Haynes,  the  for- 


*9  Dr.  Bacon's  Norwich  Address,  Cont.  Conn.  Eccl.  Hist.,  pp.  38-39. 
34 


266  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1683-1732. 

mer  Pastor  of  the  Church,  and  grandson  of  John  Haynes,  the 
Governor  of  the  Colony.'"' 

The  Synod  thus  convened  at  Saybrook,  adopted  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  agreed  to  by  the  Synod  at  Boston  in  1680, 
which  was  a  slightly  modified  form  of  the  Savoy  Declaration 
of  1658.  It  then  adopted  the  "Heads  of  the  Agreement 
assented  to  by  the  United  Ministers  formerly  called  Pres- 
byterian and  Congregational,"  a  kind  of  compromise  platform 
on  which  some  of  the  English  churches  of  those  respective 
titles  —  both  equally  put  under  disablement  by  the  restored 
Episcopal  system  —  had,  in  1691,  consented  to  stand  in  fel- 
lowship. Framed  in  this  compromise  spirit  and  for  this  fel- 
lowship purpose,  the  "  Heads  of  Agreement,"  as  might  be 
supposed,  ignored  everything  sharply  distinctive  either  in 
Congregational  or  Presbyterian  views. 

The  Synod  then  formulated  fifteen  Articles  —  its  charac- 
teristic and  historically  significant  work  —  which  constitute 
the  platform  known  as  the  Saybrook  Consociational  system. "^^ 

President  Clap  in  speaking  of  these  Articles,  says  : 

"  The  substance  of  which  (so  far  as  they  seemed  to  contain 
anything  new)  was  this  that  whereas  in  former  Times  the 
Boundaries  of  the  several  Councils  of  Churches  Consociated 
for  mutual  Assistance  were  unfixed,  and  left  in  the  General 
Terms  of  the  Neighboring  Churches^  Now  the  several  Neigh- 
borhoods of  Churches  were  more  precisely  bounded,  and  lim- 
ited to  the  respective  Coitnties  or  Districts!'  ^^ 

Doubtless  Dr.  Clap's  representation  would  be  excepted  to  by 
some  who  discern  in  the  Saybrook  Articles  an  elaborate  device 


^°  This  John  Haynes  was  born  1669,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  16S9,  was  As- 
sistant and  Judge  in  the  Colony,  and  died  November  27,  1713. 

^'  For  the  enlightenment  of  the  later  generation,  to  whom  the  Saybrook  Arti- 
cles have  become  a  kind  of  bugaboo,  the  Articles  are  given  in  Appendix  VIII. 

^■■^  Clap,  Jli'si.  Yale  Coll.,  p.  30. 


1683-1732-]  WOODBRIDGE  AND  THE  SAYBROOK  PLATFORM.   267 

for  restricting  the  liberties  of  the  churches.  It  has  been  well 
said  of  them  : 

"Taken  by  themselves  these  fifteen  articles  were  stringent 
enough  to  satisfy  the  most  ardent  High-Churchman  among 
the  Congregationalists  of  that  day  ;  taken,  however,  in  con- 
nection with  the  London  document  previously  adopted,  and 
by  the  spirit  of  which  —  apparently  -  -  they  were  always  to 
be  construed,  their  stringency  became  matter  of  differing 
judgment,  so  that  what  on  the  whole  was  their  intent  has 
never  been  settled  to  this  day."  " 

For  the  purposes  of  the  present  narrative  any  attempt  at 
settlement  of  that  problem  is  unnecessary.  The  system,  bad 
or  good,  continued  the  legally  established  one  in  the  State 
till  1784;  and  continued  the  voluntarily  accepted  method  of 
the  majority  of  the  churches  much  longer.  In  this  Church 
whose  Pastor  and  delegate  had  some  hand  in  its  devising,  it 
continued  operative  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  yaars  ;  and 
its  operation  was  such  as  enabled  another  eminent  Pastor  to 
say  at  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  adoption 
at  Saybrook,  "  the  First  Church  of  Hartford  is  a  Consociated 
Church,  and  such  I  trust  it  will  ever  remain."  '^' 

The  Synod  reported  their  conclusions  to  the  Assembly  at 
its  session  in  October  following  the  meeting  at  Saybrook,  and 
the  Assembly  declared  its  "  approbation  of  such  a  happy 
agreement,"  and  ordained, 

"That  all  the  churches  within  this  government  that  are  or 
shall  be  thus  united  in  doctrine  worship  and  discipline,  be, 
and  for  the  future  shall  be  owned  and  acknowledged  estab- 
lished by  law.  Provided  always  that  nothing  herein  shall  be 
intended  and  construed  to  hinder  or  prevent  any  society  or 
church  that  is  or  shall  be  allowed  by  the  laws  of  this  gov- 
ernment,   who    soberly    differ    or    dissent   from    the    united 


^^  Dexter's  Congregationalism  in  Literature,  p.  490. 
'^  Cont.  Conn.  Ecct.  Hist.,  p.  87.     Dr.  Havves'  Address. 


268  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

churches  hereby  estabhshed,  from  exercising  worship  and  dis- 
cipline in  their  own  way,  according  to  their  consciences."  " 

Pursuant  to  the  plan  proposed  by  the  Synod  and  ratified  by 
the  Assembly,  the  churches  of  Hartford  County  met  at 
Hartford  by  their  Pastors  and  Delegates  on  February  i, 
1709,  making  choice  of  Mr.  Woodbridge  as  Moderator,  and 
divided  into  two  Consociations  of  churches  and  two  Associa- 
tions of  ministers  ;  the  churches  of  Hartford,  Windsor, 
Farmington,  and  Simsbury,  constituting  the  constituency  of 
one  Consociation,  and  those  of  Wethersfield,  Middletown, 
Waterbury,  Glastonbury,  Haddam,  Windham,  and  Colches- 
ter, of  the  other.  The  Associational  division  of  the  minis- 
ters was,  of  course,  correspondent  with  the  Consociational 
division  of  the  churches.  The  records  of  the  North  Asso- 
ciation of  Hartford  County,  to  which  Hartford  belonged,  are 
in  nearly  complete  condition  extant,  and  they  show  that  till 
his  death,  in  1732,  Mr.  Woodbridge  was  almost  always  pres- 
ent, and  that  whenever  he  was  present  was,  with  two  excep- 
tions, chosen  Moderator.  Mr.  Woodbridge  was  Moderator 
also  of  the  General  Association  of  the  Colony,  which  met  at 
Fairfield  in  September,  171 2,  and  at  which  were  formulated 
the  rules  of  procedure  and  standards  of  qualification  in 
admitting  candidates  to  the  ministry  ;  the  irregularity  and 
uncertainty  of  both  which,  had  been  one  of  the  main  difificul- 
ties  the  Saybrook  Synod  had  been  devised  to  redress.'" 

The  establishment  of  a  more  settled  order  in  ecclesiastical 
affairs  was  attended,  naturally,  with  renewed  religious  en- 
deavor on  the  part  of  ministers  and  churches.  The  North 
Association  of  Hartford,  in  1711,  called  on  "all  such  as  had 
not  yet  owned  the  baptismal  covenant"  to  "attend  to  their 
duty  in  that  case  ; "  exhorted  such  as  had  owned  it  to  renew 


35  Col.  Rec,  V,  p.  87 . 
^^  Trumbull,  \,  p.  480. 


1683-1732-]  EFFORTS    FOR   REFORMATION.  269 

their  engagements  ;  summoned  all  congregations  within  their 
boundary  to  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  submission 
to  constituted  authority,  avoidance  of  "profanity  and  im- 
morality ;  "  advised  against  "  intemperance  in  the  use  of  law- 
ful things,  particularly  against  excess  in  drinking  ;"  and,  that 
they  might  succeed  in  such  righteous  endeavor,  were  com- 
mended diligently  to  seek  divine  assistance." 

These  endeavors  were  seconded,  in  1 714,  by  the  action  of 
the  Assembly,'"  taken  in  view  of  "  the  many  evident  tokens 
that  the  glory  is  departed  from  us,"  providing  for  a  "  strict 
enquiry"  into  the  "state  of  religion;  .  .  whether  cate- 
chizing be  duly  attended ; "  whether  there  be  a  "  suitable 
number  of  bibles  ; "  whether  "  any  neglect  attendance  on 
publick  worship,"  and  "what  means  have  been  used  with 
such  persons  "  to  induce  them  to  attend  ;  and  calling  on  "  the 
Reverend  Elders  of  the  Association "  to  report  their  find- 
ings. The  Elders  reported,  at  the  October  session  in  171 5,'' 
a  destitution  of  Bibles,  a  neglect  of  public  worship,  a  failure 
in  catechizing,  a  deficiency  in  family  government,  and  preva- 
lent intemperance.  Upon  which  report  the  Assembly  passed 
various  enactments,  the  better  to  enforce  the  law  against 
"  Lying,"  against  "  Prophane  Swearing,"  against  "  Unseason- 
ble  Meetings  of  Young  People  in  the  Evening  after  the  Sab- 
bath Days  and  other  times  ; "  and  calling  upon  the  Select- 
men of  towns  to  see  that  families  be  supplied  with  Bibles, 
"orthodox  Catechisms,  and  other  good  books  of  practical 
godliness,  viz.,  such  especially  as  treat  on,  encourage  and  duly 
prepare  for,  the  right  attendance  on  that  great  duty  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  "  '" 


^T  /did,  ii,  pp.  18-19. 
58  Col.  Rec,  V,  p.  436. 
'^^Ibid,^.  530. 
GO  Ibid,  pp.  530-531- 


270  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [16S3-1732. 

These  various  endeavors  were  well  intended,  and  were 
doubtless  productive  of  some  good.  But  one  expression  in 
the  Assembly's  enactment  is  exceedingly  suggestive — the 
call  for  books  encouraging  and  preparing  for  attendance  on 
the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  Half-way  Covenant  system  was  working  out  its  legiti- 
mate results.  People  came  to  that  halting-place  and  there 
^  remained.  When  a  new  ministerial  or  legislative  endeavor 
was  made  to  arouse  religious  feeling,  it  was  satisfied  by 
"  owning  the  covenant."  After  a  great  earthquake,  like 
that  in  Mr.  Woodbridge's  later  pastorate,  on  the  "  night  after 
the  Lord's  day  Oct  29*''  1727,  when  the  Almighty  arose,  and 
so  terribly  shook  the  earth,"  the  fact  recorded  itself  in  mul- 
titudes owning  the  covenant.  But  that  duty  done,  compara- 
tively few  went  further.  The  Church  was  in  danger  of 
becoming  emptied  of  all  but  those  admitted  to  this  outer 
court.  Moved  by  the  desertion  of  the  Lord's  Table,  at 
which  those  who  only  "  served  the  tabernacle "  of  the  cov- 
enant were  regarded  as  "  having  no  right  to  partake,"  Rev. 
Solomon  Stoddard,  a  godly  and  honored  divine  at  Northamp- 
ton, had  written — fifteen  years  before  this  action  of  the  Con- 
necticut Assembly "' — arguing  the  converting   tendency  of 


•^^  Mr.  Stoddard's  volume  was  published  in  1700,  and  followed  by  controver- 
sial discussions.  His  name  is  unpleasantly  associated  with  a  view  of  the  place 
the  Supper  holds  in  relation  to  the  religious  life,  which  has  generally  been 
deemed  erroneous  ;  but  of  Mr.  Stoddard's  great  success  as  a  true  evangelical 
minister,  ample  evidence  remains.  No  minister  of  New  England  in  his  day 
was,  perhaps,  so  favored  with  revivals  in  his  congregation  as  was  Mr.  Stoddard 
between  the  years  1679  ^"d  171 2. 

One  point  of  connection  between  Mr.  Stoddard  and  the  First  Church  of 
Hartford  may  here  be  mentioned,  if  only  as  illustrating  the  process  of  disci- 
pline and  of  voting  in  the  Church  at  this  period.  Some  matter  of  offence 
charged  by  the  Church  against  "  Maj.  Joseph  Talcot "  was  at  a  meeting  held 
July  9,  1719,  "referred  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Solomon  Stoddard,  Mr.  John  Wil- 
liams and  Mr.  William  Williams  for  their  advice."  What  the  offence  was, 
and  what  the  finding  of  the  Referees  was,  does  not  appear.     But  on  January 


1685-173- ]  WOODBRIDGE'S    OLD   AGE.  2/1 

the  Lord's  Supper  as  a  means  of  grace  to  those  confessedly 
not  yet  experimental  Christians ;  and  the  Assembly  seems 
to  have  thought  that  more  of  such  "encouraging"  books 
would  be  useful.  The  attempt,  well  designed  but  erroneous, 
to  bring  Christian  standards  down  to  the  acceptance  of  men, 
instead  of  bringing  men  up  to  the  standards,  is  instructive. 
It  has  its  modern  as  well  as  its  ancient  illustrations, 
though  in  altered  form.  But  it  was  a  mistake  then,  as  it  is 
ever. 

No  marked  change  in  religious  matters  appeared  in  Mr. 
Woodbridge's  day.  He  himself  seems  to  have  been  a  labori- 
ous and  faithful  man.  Age  crept  upon  him  still  honored  and 
apparently  beloved.  His  handwriting  in  the  first  extant 
Church  record-book  grew  tremulous  and  indistinct.  Occa- 
sional entries  appear  of  baptisms  by  other  hands— by  "  My 
Son"  [Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  Jr.],  or  "by  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitman."  February,  1732,  seems  to  be  the  date  of  the  last 
entry  in  his  own  writing.  On  the  29th  of  December  pre- 
vious, the  Society  had  passed  the  following  vote  : 

"Whereas  the  advanced  age  of  our  Rever'"'  Pastour  and 
bodily  Infirmities  attending  him  in  his  Publick  Ministry 
must  in  the  Winter  Season  be  overburdensome  to  him,  Wee 
agree  to  Endeavour  to  provide  Some  Suitable  person  to 
assist  him  in  his  publick  Ministry  for  the  remaining  part  of 
the  Winter." 

But  the  necessity  was  not  long.  He  died  April  30,  1732, 
aged  seventy-six  years  and  three  months  ;  having  served  the 
Church  in  a  ministerial  capacity  forty-eight  years  and  eight 


31,  1720,  "the  following  vote  was  offered  to  y''  Church  &  consented  to  by 
them— If  you  do  freely  over  looke  &  Passe  by  all  things  that  have  passed  be- 
tween Maj.--  Talcot  Sc  yourselves  as  matter  of  offence  &  do  upon  his  desire 
withdraw  your  charge  you  have  Laid  against  him  to  prosecute  it  no  farther  & 
do  receive  him  to  your  charity  &  communion,  manifest  your  consent  hereunto 
by  your  Silence.     Which  was  done  by  the  Church."     A/r.  Woodbridge's  Record. 


272  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1683-1732. 

months ;  of  which  period  he  was  for  forty-six  years  and 
three  months  its  Pastor. 

Mr.  Woodbridge  married  three  times.  His  first  wife,  as 
has  been  said  already,  was  Mehitable,  widow  of  his  prede- 
cessor, Isaac  Foster.  Of  his  second  wife,  a  Mrs.  Howell, 
little  is  known.  His  third  wife,  Abigail,  widow  of  Richard 
Lord,  and  daughter  of  John  Warren  of  Boston,  was  a  woman 
of  character  and  wealth,  of  whom  there  will  be  occasion  to 
speak  hereafter. 

Mr.  Woodbridge  had  seven  children,"  two  of  whom 
became  useful  and  honored  ministers  in  Connecticut, — 
Timothy,  at  Simsbury,  in  1712;  and  Ashbel,  at  Glastonbury, 
in  October,  1728  ;  and  both  of  them  in  turn  had  clerical 
offspring,  whose  names  are  had  in  honorable  remembrance."" 

Mr.  Woodbridge  was  buried  beside  his  predecessors  in  the 
ground  back  of  the  present  church-edifice — the  slab  marking 
Isaac  Foster's  burial  place  as  well  as  his  own  ;  and  his  virtues 
were  celebrated  in  an  extended  passage  of  the  Election 
Sermon,  preached  eleven  days  after  his  death,  by  his  friend, 
Rev.  Timothy  Edwards  of  East  Windsor,  the  father  of  Rev, 


*^  Mr.  Woodbridge' s  children  were  : 

1.  Timothy,  bapt.  Oct.  3,  1686;  grad.  Y.  C.  1706;  minister  at  Simsbury 
1712  ;  died  1742. 

2.  Mary,  bapt.  June  19,  1692  ;  married  May  7,  1724,  Hon.  Wm.  Pitlvin  of 
East  Hartford;  died  Feb.  17,  1766. 

3.  Ruth,  bapt.  Aug.  iS,  1695 ;  married  Rev.  John  Pierson  of  Woodbridge, 
N.  J. ;  died  1734. 

4.  John,  bapt.  Jan.  31,  1697  ;  buried  Feb.  6,  1697. 

5.  Susanna  (probably  child  of  second  wife),  bapt.  Feb.  6,  1703  ;  married 
Aug.  7,  1728,  Richard  Treat. 

6.  Ashbel,  bapt.  June  10,  1704;  grad.  Y.  C.  1724;  minister  Glastonbury, 
1728  ;  married  Nov.  17,  1737,  Jerusha,  daughter  of  Wm.  Pitkin  of  East  Hart- 
ford, and  widow  of  Samuel  Edwards  of  Hartford ;  died  Aug.  6,  1758. 

7.  Theodore  (son  of  third  wife),  bapt.  June  23,  1717  ;  died  young. 

**  Timothy,  son  of  Timothy  second,  minister  at  Hatfield,  Mass.;  and  Samuel, 
son  of  Ashbel,  minister  at  Eastbury  and  West  Hartland,  Conn.  William,  also 
son  of  Ashbel,  was  the  first  preceptor  of  Phillips  Academy,  Exeter. 


16S3-1732]  WOODBRIDGE'S   OLD   AGE.  2/3 

Jonathan  Edwards  of  Northampton,  and  himself  a  child  of 
this  Church.'" 

A  part  only  of  the  long  and  somewhat  complicated  para- 
graph need  here  be  repeated.  Mr.  Edwards  had  just  spoken 
feelingly  of  the  death  of  Rev.  Thomas  Buckingham  of  the 
Second  Church,  who  had  passed  away  only  a  "few  months" 
before,  and  now  proceeding  to  speak  of  Mr,  Woodbridge, 
delivers  himself,  in  part,  thus  : 

"  And  also  Considering  the  final  departure  of  that  aged 
and  eminent  Servant  of  Christ  who  died  in  this  Town  last 
week,  who  was  one  of  the  principal  men  of  his  Order  in  the 
Land ;  Him,  we  that  were  his  Contemporaries  in  the  Sacred 
work  of  the  Evangelical  Ministry  in  the  Towns  about  him 
generally  Considered  as  much  our  Senior  and  Superior  ;  and 
in  Cases  of  Weight  and  Difficulty  advised  with,  yea  and 
hearkened  unto  him  as  to  our  Head  and  Guide,  yea  very 

much   as  to  a  Father I  may  truly  say  of  him  that 

Considering  the  goodness  of  his  natural  Temper,  the  gravity 
greatness  &  Superiority  that  appeared  in  his  Countenance, 
his  bodily  Presence  being  so  far  from  Mean  and  Contempti- 
ble, that  it  was  great  much  above  what  is  ordinary  ;  his 
proper  Stature  (he  being  Taller  than  the  common  Size)  with 
his  Comley  Majestic  Aspect,  being  such  as  commanded  Rev- 
erence ;  and  Considering  how  Wise  and  Judicious  he  was, 
with  his  great  Prudence,  his  entertaining  Freedom,  obliging 
Courtesy  &  Affability,  his  superior  Learning,  Reading  and 
Knowledge  ;  his  Liberal,  Bountiful,  Generous  and  Publick 
Spirit  (in  which  he  did  much  excel)  his  great  Ability  for  and 
readiness  in  giving  Counsel,  ....  and  how  much  the  care  of 


*3  Timothy  Edwards  was  son  of  Richard  Edwards  of  Hartford ;  he  was  born 
May  14,  1669;  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1691,  receiving  the  degrees  A.B. 
and  A.M.  the  same  day  as  a  mark  of  his  "  extraordinary  proficiency;"  and  was 
ordained  pastor  at  East  Windsor  in  May,  1694.  He  married  Esther,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Solomon  Stoddard  of  Northampton,  Nov.  6,  1694,  who  bore  him  ten 
daughters  and  one  son,  Jonathan,  born  Oct.  5,  1703 ;  and  he  died  in  the  pastor- 
ate at  East  Windsor,  Jan.  27,  1758,  in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  The  Election  Ser- 
mon above  spoken  of  was  preached  at  Hartford,  May  11,  173-. 
35 


274  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1683-1732. 

the  Churches  and  the  College  lay  upon  him,  and  what  a 
Blessing  he  was  to  them  both  ;  .  .  .  .  and  what  Influence, 
Sway  and  Authority  he  had  with  Ministers  and  People,  yea 
with  men  of  all  Ranks,  Degrees  and  Orders,  and  how  much 
he  hath  been  a  Healer  of  Breaches  Strifes  &  Divisions 
among  us, ,  .  . .  and  Considering  his  Orthodoxy  &  Soundness 
in  the  Christian  Faith,  ....  and  Considering  also  for  how 
many  years  and  how  well  he  filled  the  Pulpit,  and  (in  our 
Councils  and  Associations)  the  Moderators  Chair,  ....  and 
how  brightly  the  Graces  and  Vertues  of  a  Christian  and  a 
Minister  of  Christ  shined  forth  in  his  Life,  ....  and  how 
much  good  he  did  in  his  Day,  and  how  extensively  useful  & 
sefvicable,  and  what  a  Blessing  he  was  in  his  Generation, 
and  how  becoming  a  Christian  and  a  Minister  he  carried 
himself  in  living  &  dying,  I  say  Considering  these  things 
(beside  others  of  the  same  kind  which  might  be  added  to 
them)  which  I  have  briefly  mentioned  concerning  this  emi- 
nent Person,  it  may  doubtless  be  truly  said  of  him  that  he 
was  one  of  the  Choicest  &  greatest  men,  that  has  ever 
appeared  among  us  in  these  parts  of  the  Countrey." 

With  which  eulogium,  which  was  probably  all  deserved, 
this  chapter  on  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  his  pastorate  may  well 
enough  end,'" 


^°  Mr.  Woodbridge's  will  is  dated  April  i,  1732.  He  had  previously  parted 
with  most  of  his  real  estate  to  his  sons  by  deed  of  gift.  The  inventory  of  his 
effects  contains,  among  many  other  specified  items,  "  i  broad  cloath  coat,  black 
Russet  vest  &  briches,  £iS'>"  Library  of  books,  £^4 ;  "  In  the  servants  John 
Wobbin  an  Indian  ^24 ;  "  Lydia,  a  "  Negro  Girll,"  ^f  60  ;  the  old  oxen  ^20 ; 
young  oxen  ^16;  one  yoke  large  steers  ;^I4.  los ;  brown  cow  and  ca.\i  /^8; 
one  cow  £6.  10  ;  one  do.  /^8.  10;  one  with  calf  ;i^8.  10;  one  £6.  10;  one  heifer 
with  calf  ;^6.  10;  one  yearling  steer  ;i^5 ;  one  do.  ;^2.  10;  stallion  ;i^i2;  one 
"  Mare  and  colt  in  the  woods  "  £2  ;  one  5  year  £4 ;  one  3  year  £2  y  ^^^  2  year 
£2.  10;  3  colts;  sow  and  seven  shoats.  "136^  oz.  of  Plate  at  16'^  pr.  oz. 
,^109.  14."  From  all  which,  as  from' similar  inventories  of  Mr.  Woodbridge's 
predecessors,  it  appears  that  a  Hartford  clergyman's  belongings  in  the  first 
hundred  years  of  the  town's  history  were  in  quality,  to  say  nothing  of  magni- 
tude, very  different  from  his  possessions  now. 


CHAPTER     XI. 


DANIEL  WADSWORTH  AND    HIS  TIMES. 

The  "  Some  Suitable  person  "  who  was  engaged  to  assist 
Mr.  Woodbridge  "  for  the  remaining  part  of  the  Winter  and 
Longer  if  occasion  call  for  it,"  was  probably  Daniel  Wads- 
worth.  For,  on  the  2d  day  of  May,  1732 — two  days  after 
Mr.  Woodbridge's  death,  and  the  evening  of  his  funeral — 
a  meeting  of  the  Society  was  held  and  a  tax  levied  "  to  Satt- 
isfy  and  pay  Mr.  Daniel  Wadsworth  for  his  Labours  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel."  This  action,  which 
contemplates  payment  for  past  services,  was  followed  at  the 
same  meeting  by  the  appointment  of  a  committee,  consist- 
ing of  "  His  Hon--  the  Gov"-,  Capt.  Wyllys,  Capt.  Shelding, 
Capt.  Nickols,  and  Dea.  Richards  (with  the  advice  of  the 
Reverend  Elders  of  the  Association)  to  Treat  with  Mr. 
Daniel  Wadsworth  respecting  his  settling  in  the  work  of  the 
Ministry  of  the  Gospell  amongst  us," 

Apparently  the  report  of  the  committee  and  the  advice  of 
the  elders  were  favorable  ;  for  on  the  28th  of  June  following, 
the  question  being  put  to  vote  in  the  Society  meeting, 
"  whether  it  is  the  mind  of  the  Society  to  Call  the  Rev'' 
Mr.  Daniel  Wadsworth  unto  the  office  of  the  Gospell  Minis- 
try," it  was  "  Resolved  in  the  affirmative." 

The  Society  then  voted  "  five  hundred  pounds  in  Good 
Bills  of  public  Credit"  for  Mr.  Wadsworth's  "Settlement;" 
and  a  salary  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds.     By  the  9th 


276  THE   FIRST  CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [1732-1747. 

of  August,  however,  it  seemed  expedient,  because  of  the 
uncertainty  of  the  value  of  the  currency,  to  hold  another 
meeting  and  to  vote  "  that  provided  the  s''  M'  Dan*^  Wads- 
worth  Settle  in  y''  ministry  among  us  this  Society  will  an- 
nually ....  grant  and  pay  unto  him  so  much  in  bills  of 
publick  Credit  or  in  Case  their  Currency  fail,  in  the  other 
then  Current  medium  of  Trade  in  y"  Country  as  shall  be 
equivalent  unto  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  in  y"^  present 
bills  of  Credit  according  to  their  present  value." ' 

The  young  minister  had  boarded  at  Mrs.  Abigail  Wood- 
bridge's,  after  and  probably  before  her  husband's  death  ; 
and  the  Society  committee  were  ordered  to  pay  her  "for 
keeping  Mr.  Wadsworth  while  he  was  in  Hartford." 

Things  being  thus  arranged,  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Wads- 
worth  took  place  September  28,  1732.  The  procedure  on 
the  occasion  he  himself  inscribed  on  the  Church  record, 
as  follows  : 

"  The  Revd.  Mr.  Whitman  "  began  with  pray'"  and  preached 
a  Sermon  from  Mat.  24,  45.,  the  Rev''  Mr.  Edwards  '  made  a 
pray""  and  gave  y*"  Charge,  the  ReV'  Mr.  Marsh  '  made  y*"  next 


>  There  had  been  a  gradual  depreciation  of  the  Bills  of  Credit  some  time  in 
progress.  Mr.  Woodbridge's  salary  was  to  be  ;^ioo.  But  in  the  latter  part  of 
his  ministry  the  medium  of  exchange  was  so  far  sunk  in  value  that  his  salary 
in  1724  was  made  ^115  ;  in  1725  till  1728,  ;^i30 ;  and  from  1729  to  1731,  ;i^i50. 
The  depreciation  progressed  during  Mr.  Wadsworth's  ministry,  so  that  the 
sums  voted  as  representing  the  ;i^i30,  on  which  he  was  settled,  came  to  be,  in 
1735,  £''-4'^>  i'^  "736  and  1737,  ;^IS0;  from  173S  to  1740,  ^200;  from  1741  to 
1743,  ;if25o;  in  1744  and  1745,^^300;  in  1746,  ^^340  ;  and  in  1747,  the  last 
year  of  his  active  ministry,  ;^400. 

-  Rev.  Samuel  Whitman  of  Farmington,.  pastor  of  the  church  of  which  Mr. 
Wadsworth  was  a  member.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1696;  ordained 
at  Farmington  December  10,  1706;  died  1751.  His  son  Elnathanwas  ordained 
pastor  of  the  Second  Church  in  Hartford  on  the  29th  of  the  November  follow- 
ing this  ordination  of  Mr.  Wadsworth. 

3  Timothy  Edwards  of  South  Windsor.     See  ante,  p.  273. 

*  Jonathan  Marsh  of  Windsor ;  graduated  at  Harvard  1705;  ordained  at 
Windsor  1709;  published  election  sermons  1721,  1737  ;  and  died  September  8, 
1747,  aged  63. 


I732-I747-]  DANIEL   WADSWORTH.  2/7 

prayer,  the  Revd.  Mr.  Colton '  gave  the  Right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship." 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Wadsworth  who  thus,  in  his  28th  year  of 
age,  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Hartford, 
was  born  at  Farmington  November  14,  1704.  He  was  the 
great-grandson  of  William  Wadsworth,  who  came  to  this 
country  in  the  Lion,  on  the  i6th  of  September,  1632  ; 
removed  to  Hartford  in  the  general  migration  of  1636,  and 
was  a  man  prominent  in  all  public  affairs  till  his  death  in  1675.° 
William's   son  John — a  brother  of   the  Joseph  Wadsworth 

who  rescued  and  hid  the  Charter — settled  in  Farmington,  and 

• 

there  John's  son,  John,  and  his  grandson  Daniel,  were  born. 
Daniel  was  educated  at  Yale  College,  graduating  in  1726, 
in  the  same  class  with  Elnathan  Whitman — son  of  his 
Farmington  pastor — who  was  to  be  his  associate  in  the  Hart- 
ford ministry  as  pastor  of  the  Second  Church.'  Very  prob- 
ably it  was  to  the  Farmington  pastor  that  the  two  young 
Hartford  ministers  may  have  been  indebted  for  their  theo- 
logical training ;  the  usage  of  those  days,  before  the  estab- 
lishment of  our  technical  theological  schools,  taking  young 
men  into  the  families  of  some  established  minister  of  repute, 
for  their  ministerial  education.  The  new  Pastor  followed  the 
establishment  of  his  ecclesiastical  relations  by  the  formation 
of  social  ones,  marrying,  in  February  1734,  Abigail  Talcott, 
daughter  of  Governor  Joseph  Talcott." 


^Benjamin  Colton  of  the  Fourth  or  West  Hartford  Church;  graduated  at 
Yale  College  1710;  ordained  February  24,  1713;  died  March  i,  1759. 

®In  July,  1644,  he  married  Eliz.  Stone  (probably  a  sister  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Stone),  but  she  was  a  second  wife,  and  not  the  mother  of  his  children,  some  of 
whom  were  born  in  England. 

■^  Elnathan  Whitman  survived  both  Mr.  Wadsworth  and  Mr.  Wadsworth's 
successor,  Edward  Dorr,  and  died  in  March,  1777. 

'^  The  frequent  references  in  this  and  in  the  following  pastorate  to  the  Tal- 
cotts,  and  the  relation  of  that  family  to  the  two  Pastors  and  to  the  Church,  per- 
haps calls  for  a  statement  of  the  family  of  the  Governor  : 


278  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

The  occasion  of  a  new  ministry  seems  to  have  been  laid 
hold  of  by  the  Society  for  the  revival  of  the  question  of  a 
new  meeting-house.  This  question  had  already  been  a  good 
deal  debated.  Obviously,  the  old  house,  on  what  is  now 
Court  House  Square,  had  become  incommodious.  It  was, 
as  the  records  show,  constantly  undergoing  repairs,  and 
either  because  of  its  situation  or  its  degeneration  by  age, 
was  to  be  succeeded  by  another. 

The  first  form  the  meeting-house  movement  took  was  a 
proposal,  in  January  1727,  four  years  before  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge's  death,  to  build  one  house  for  the  two  Societies ;  and 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  "our  friends  of 
the  New  Church  ....  to  see  if  they  are  of  our  mind  and 
whether  they  will  engage  with  us  to  build  a  House  and  unite 
into  one  Society."' 


Governor  Joseph  Talcott,  grandson  of  first  settler  John,  and  son  of  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel John,  was  born  November  16,  1669,  ^^<i  married  Abigail  Clark  in 
1693.     By  her  he  had  three  children  : 

1.  John,  b.  February  27,  1699;  m.  Abagail  Theobalds,  December  30,  1725  ; 
d.  1777. 

2.  Z)^ac(7«  Joseph,  b.  February  17, 1701  ;  m.  Esther  Pratt,  April  27,  1727  ;  d. 
July  3,  1799. 

3.  Nathaniel,  b.  November  26,  1702;  m.  Hannah  Ferris. 

By  his  second  wife  Eunice,  daughter  of  Matthew  Howell  and  widow  of  Sam- 
uel Wakeman,  he  had  six  children  : 

4.  Abigail,  b.  April  13,  1707  ;  m.  Rev.  Daniel  Wadsworth,  February  25, 
17,54;  d.  June  24,  1773. 

5.  Eunice,  b.  January  26,  1709;  m.  Nathaniel  Hooker,  grad.  Y.  C.  1729;  d. 

1795- 

6.  Matthew,  b.  1713;  m.  Mary  Russell;  d.  August  29,  1S02. 

7.  Samuel,  grad-.  Y.  C.  1733;  m.  Mabel  Wyllys,  May  3,  1739;  d.  March 
6,  1797. 

8.  Jerusha,  b.  May  3,  1717  ;  m.  Dr.  Daniel  Lothrop  of  Norwich,  December 
4,  1744;  d.  September,  1805. 

9.  Helena,  b.  March  13,  1720;  m.  ist.  Rev.  Edward  Dorr;  m.  2d,  Rev. 
Robert  Breck,  November  2,  1773;  d.  July  9,  1797. 

^  The  committee  on  the  question  of  uniting  the  old  and  new  Societies  in  one 
house  building  enterprise  were  "  His  Honor,  the  Governor  [Talcott],  Capt.  Hez. 
Wyllys,  Capt.  John  Shelding  and  Dea.  Thomas  Richards."  The  "new" 
society  was  now  fifty-seven  years  old. 


I732-I747-]  NEW   MEETING-HOUSE.  279 

This  overture  receiving  "no  answer  in  writing,"  the  So- 
ciety, on  the  1 6th  of  the  same  month,  appointed  Captain 
Samuel  Mather  of  Windsor,  Mr.  Edward  Bulkley  of  Weth- 
ersfield,  and  Deacon  John  Hart  of  Farmington,  a  committee 
"to,  fix  and  determine  the  most  accommodable  place  for 
setting  up  a  Meeting  House,  next  the  great  Street  in  Hart- 
ford, from  the  north  west  Corner  of  Capt  Benj.  Smiths  Lott, 
to  the  south  west  Corner  of  Mrs.  Eliza.  Wilsons  Lott," 
z. -?.,  from  about  Central  Row  to  Arch  Street.  Governor 
Talcott,  Hezekiah  Wyllis,  and  Captains  Sheldon  and  Nichols 
were  to  confer  with  the  above  committee,  and  "  to  lay  the 
matters  of  difficulty"  before  them.  A  "rate"  of  ^100  was 
ordered  for  building  purposes,  to  be  paid  "within  four 
months." 

The  matters  of  difficulty  were  the  disagreements  about 
the  location.  Attendants  of  the  Society  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Little  River  thought  the  Meeting  House  Yard,  now 
Court  House  Square,  too  far  north.  Attendants  north  of 
Meeting  House  Yard  were  not  willing  to  go  far  south  of  it. 
Nothing  magnifies  distance  like  the  removal  of  a  meeting- 
house. Various  places  were  proposed :  the  Burying-Ground 
lot.  Captain  Williamson's  lot,  and  some  location  on  Mrs. 
Wilson's  long  lot  between  what  is  now  Arch  Street  and  the 
lane  north  of  the  Athenaeum  building. 

The  out-of-tovv^n  committee  reported,  March  6th,  1728,  in 
favor  of  a  location  "on  Mrs.  Wilson's  lot,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  barn  on  said  lot,  next  the  street,  to  be  15  feet  south 
of  the  cow-house,"  a  location  in  the  near  vicinity  of  the  spot 
where  St.  John's  church  now  stands.  They  were  probably 
influenced,  in  part,  in  their  decision,  by  the  understood 
willingness  of  Mrs.  Wilson  to  give  the  land  for  the  purpose.'" 


'°Mr.  Ebenezer  Williamson  took  Deacon  John  Hart's  place  on  the  commit- 
tee.    They  were  paid  for  their  services-,  ;i^i  15^-.  3^/. 


28o  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        I1732-1747. 

But  the  possibilities  of  meeting-house  quarrels  are  infinite. 
Some  did  not  like  the  proposed  situation  because  it  was  too 
far  south ;  some  because  it  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  street, 
and  unduly  favored  those  who  lived  on  that  side.  In  Jan- 
uary 1727,  the  people  on  the  south  side  of  the  Riveret 
professed  their  willingness,  if  the  Meeting  House  Yard  situ- 
ation were  abandoned,  to  go  anywhere  on  the  Great  [Main] 
Street,  south  of  Smith's  corner  [Central  Row].  But  now, 
in  1728,  when  Governor  Talcott  and  fifty-five  others  signed 
an  agreement  to  build,  if  the  house  could  be  located  on  the 
burying-ground,  the  south-siders  would  not  consent  to  it. 

So  the  matter  waited.  December  i6th,  1730,  it  came  up 
again.  On  that  date,  the  Society  appointed  "His  Hon.""  the 
Governour  [Talcott]  and  Capt  John  Sheldon"  a  committee 
to  ask  leave  of  the  "Town  to  sett  a  Meeting  house  Either  in 
part  or  in  Whole  on  the  burying  lott" — substantially  the 
place  where  the  church-edifice  now  stands. 

The  Town  next  day,  December  17th,  left  the  matter  to  a 
committee  to  hear  and  determine.  Apparently  the  deter- 
mination was  favorable,  for  it  is  referred  to  as  such  in 
subsequent  discussions,  and  no  after  consent  ever  seems  to 
have  been  sought  or  given  for  the  building  of  the  edifice  on 
the  burying-ground. 

But  the  scheme  delayed.  Mrs.  Wilson  died  and  her 
daughter  Mrs.  Abigail  Woodbridge,  wife  of  the  Pastor, 
succeeded  to  her  estate.  Mr.  Woodbridge  died.  At  a 
meeting  held  on  the  evening  after  his  funeral,  May  2d,  1732, 
it  was  voted — apparently  under  stress  of  some  "threatening 
of  the  party  of  the  south  side"  that  they  would  leave  the 
Society  unless  the  location  fixed  on  by  the  out  of  town  com- 
mittee were  adopted — "by  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  per- 
sons Qualified  to  vote  of  s'^  Society,"  that  a  new  meeting- 


I732-I747-]  NEW   MEETING-HOUSE.  281 

house  was  a  "necessity,"  and  that  "wee  agree  to  build  said 
House  on  the  Lott  belonging  to  Mrs.  Woodbridge  .  .  if 
the  Hon'.  Gen'.  Assembly  will  give  us  their  Sanction  so  to 
do."  The  same  meeting  appointed  "a  committee  to  Treat 
with  Mrs.  Abigail  Woodbridge  for  her  allowance  and  Con- 
veyance of  the  Land."  The  Assembly,  thus  invoked,  ordered 
and  appointed  said  Society 

"To  build  their  meeting-house  on  the  lot  of  land  belonging 
to  Mrs.  Abigail  Woodbridge  .  .  on  the  south  of  the 
great  gate  towards  the  southwest  corner  of  said  lot,  and  so 
ni^h  to  the  southwest  corner  as  the  committee  of  said 
society  and  Mrs.  Woodbridge  shall  agree  to."" 

Mrs.  Woodbridge  on  her  part  responded  to  the  overtures 
of  the  committee  by  deeding  to  the  Society  on  the  25th  of 
June,  1733,  "one  certain  piece  or  parcel  of  land  .  .  contain- 
ing in  quantity  7,842  square  feet."  The  deed  recites  that 
Mrs.  Woodbridge  was  moved  to  this  gift  by  the  consider- 
ation that  her  late  "honored  mother  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wilson 
...  in  her  life-time  did  promise  to  give  to  God  and 
the  First  Church  and  Society  in  Hartford,  whereof  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Daniel  Wadsworth  is  now  pastor,  so  much  of  that  lot 
of  land  which  my  said  mother  purchased  of  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Way  ....  as  would  be  needful  and  convenient  to  erect 
and  build  a  house  for  attending  the  public  worship  of 
God,"  as,  also  by  her  own  sense  of  duty  to  "  honour  God 
with  my  substance  and  to  return  to  him  and  the  Church 
some  part  of  that  which  in  his  kind  providence  he  has  given 
unto  me."  She  therefore  proceeds  to  grant  a  lot  of  seventy- 
nine  feet  frontage  and  ninety-eight  feet  depth,  on  Main 
street,  lying  to  the  "  South  of  the  gate  opening  into  "  a  cer- 
tain "  barn-yard  "  which  she  owned  along  that  street ;  which 


"  Col.  Rec,  vii,  p.  380. 
36 


282  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.        [1732-1747. 

barn-yard  itself  lay  to  the  south  of  the  acre  of  ground  ceded 
by  Mrs.  Woodbridge,  for  the  consideration  of  ;£ioo,  to  Rev. 
•Daniel  Wadsworth,  and  which  is  nearly  enough  represented 
by  the  lot  occupied  by  the  Wadsworth   Athenaeum. '■' 

The  land  given  lay  thus,  it  appears,  in  the  vicinity  of  that 
on  which  St.  John's  Church  is  now  standing ;  it  may  be 
wholly  to  the  north  of  it ;  but  with  the  intervention  of  the 
often  referred  to  barn  property  of  Mrs.  Woodbridge,  between 
it  and  the  Wadsworth  lot.  Things  were  now  apparently  clear. 
A  lot  given  in  free  possession,  and  a  vote  of  the  Society, 
June  20th,  five  days  before  the  writings  were  actually  passed, 
that  the  "  Meeting-House  to  be  erected  shall  be  seventy  foot 
in  length  and  fourty-six  foot  in  breadth,"  and  a  resolve  of  the 
Assembly  that  the  house  be  built  there. 

Feeling  the  impulse  of  the  new  departure,  it  was  at  this 
June  meeting  of  1733  that  the  Society  voted  to  make  trial, 
under  certain  conservative  conditions  hitherto  specified,  " 
of  the  new  "  singing  by  Rule,"  which  the  old  Pastor,  Mr. 
Woodbridge,  had  argued  for,  but  died  without  the  hearing  of. 

But  some  way  things  moved  slow.  Eighteen  months  went  by 
and  nothing  done  but  doubtless  plenty  of  growling.  Then,  on 
December  25,  1734,  the  Society  voted  that  the  new  edifice 
"  shall  be  of  brick ;  "  ordered  a  "  Rate  "  for  their  purchase, 
and  appointed  a  building  committee.  But  still  there  was  im- 
pediment. Four  meetings  of  the  Society  were  held  at  the 
Court  House  between  January  15th  and  the  "first  Thursday 


^^  The  grant  to  Mr.  Wadsworth  of  the  land  on  which  he  built  soon  after,  and 
where  he  lived  till  he  died,  was  made  the  same  day  as  the  deed  to  the  First 
Society.  But  Hon.  T.  Day,  in  his  Athenaeum  Address,  was  certainly  in  error  in 
stating  that  the  north  line  of  the  Society  lot,  and  the  south  line  of  the  Wads- 
worth lot  were  identical.  The  barn  property  intervened  between  the  two  ceded 
parcels. 

13  Ante,  pp.  226-229. 


I732-I747-]  NEW  MEETING-HOUSE.  283 

in  March"  1736,  at  which  the  meeting-house  question  was 
debated.  On  the  occasion  last  named,  the  following  ques- 
tions were  put  to  the  suffrages  of  the  Society  : 

"Whether  under  the  difficulties  of  proceeding  to  build  a 
Meeting-House  on  Mrs.  Woodbridges  Lot,  in  that  about  fifty 
of  our  Society  refuse  to  pay  anything  toward  building  there, 
you  think  Convenient  or  proper  to  proceed  further  without 
addressing  the  Generall  Assembly  for  their  further  direction. 
Voted  in  the  Negative  by  41.  .  .  . 

Whether  the  Society  voat  that  Dea.  John  Edwards  and 
Mr.  Edward  Cadwell  shall  apply  themselves  in  behalf  of  this 
Society  to  the  Town's  Committee  to  Set  out  a  place  for  this 
Society  to  build  a  Meeting  House  ...  on  the  burying  Lot 
...  as  the  Town  vote  hath  Impowered  them.  Voted  in  the 
affirmative." 

Against  these  votes  and  two  others,  passed  at  the  same 
time,  raising  a  committee  to  carry  the  "  whole  difficulties  of 
the  Society"  before  the  General  Assembly,  eighteen  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  entered  a  "protest"  on  the  records,  recit- 
ing that  the  Society  had  "already  once  agreed,  and  voted  to 
build  a  meeting  House  for  Divine  Worship  at  a  certain  deter- 
minate place  as  the  records  show,  and  obtained  a  legal  Sanc- 
tion according  thereunto,"  and  declaring  that  "  wee  ought  to 
abide  by  and  conform  ourselves  to  the  said  Agreements,  Cov- 
enants and  'Determinations."  '* 

Both  parties  took  their  case  to  the  Assembly  —  the  major- 
ity of  the  Society  requesting  the  Assembly  to  reconsider  its 
locating  order  of  1732  ;  the  protestors  reciting  the  facts,  and 
stating  that  "  materials,  brick,  etc.,  in  great  quantity"  had 
been  provided,  a  "rate  of  12  pence  in  the  pound  "  levied,  a 


^*  The  protestors  were  "  Hez.  Wyllys,  Tho.  Richards,  Cyp :  Nickols,  James 
Ensigne,  Saml.  Catling,  Benj"'  Catlin,  Saml.  Shepard,  Jonathan  Butler,  Tho. 
King,  Thomas  Ensign,  jun^,  Thomas  Hopkins,  Joseph  Shepard,  Jonathan 
Mason,  Jonathan  Taylor,  Moses  Ensign,  John  Shepard,  Jonathan  Easton,  Joseph 
Shepard,  jun""." 


284  THE  FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

building  committee  appointed,  but  that  "  at  present  the  work 
ceaseth."  The  Assembly  apparently  listened  more  to  the 
protestors  than  to  the  petitioners,  and  did  nothing. 

The  protestors  were,  however,  by  the  4th  day  of  October, 
willing  to  modify  their  position  so  far  as  to  accede  to  a  pro- 
posal to  Mrs.  Woodbridge  to  take  her  barn-yard  lot  —  higher, 
dryer,  and  a  little  farther  north  along  the  street —  instead  of 
the  one  formerly  given  for  the  site  of  the  new  meeting-house; 
and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  on  her  and  see  what 
she  would  do  about  it.  The  obliging  lady  consented  to  give 
a  deed  of  exchange  on  condition  that  the  Society  move  her 
old  barn  or  build  a  new  one.  Which  being  reported  to  a 
Society  meeting  on  October  5th,  it  was  voted,  with  a  dissent 
only  of  four,  to  build  on  the  barn-yard  lot.  The  meeting  be- 
ing a  small  one,  another  was  held  October  1 1  th,  when,  two  only 
dissenting,  it  was  determined  to  "  proceed  to  build  where  the 
Barn  now  stands,  provided  the  General  Assembly  should 
order  and  allow  us  to  do  so."  The  Assembly  did  so  with 
alacrity  ;  resolving,  at  its  October  session,  in  view  of  the 
record  of  a  "  Vote  of  all  of  said  Society  then  present  except 
two,"  that 

"  The  said  place  where  the  barn  stands  be  and  is  hereby 
fixed  and  determined  to  be  the  place  for  building  and  erect- 
ing a  meeting  house  by  and  for  said  first  society,  any  other 
place  appointed  or  act  passed  notwithstanding."  '" 

But  the  new  lot  was  still  a  few  feet  further  from  the  old 
meeting-house  than  the  burying  lot  would  be.  And  then 
the  removing  of  the  barn  !  and  the  "  underpinings  ! "  The 
possibilities  of  the  conflict  were  not  exhausted.  Church- 
building  quarrels  never  are.  In  somewhat  curt  terms  the 
Society  voted,  on  the  17th  day  of  January   1737 — after  hear- 


"•  Col.  Records,  viii,  p.  74. 


I732-1747-)  NEW  MEETING-HOUSE.  285 

ing  a  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  Mrs.  Woodbridge 
on  the  4th  of  the  same  month — "  that  this  Society  will  not 
Choose  or  Impower  any  Committee  to  Treat  with  Mrs. 
Abigail  Woodbridge  any  further  Respecting  the  moving  of 
the  Barn  ; "  and  appointed  a  committee  to  buy  a  small  part 
of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Hooker's  lot  "  next  the  Burying  Lot ; " 
resolved  that  the  building  should  be  of  wood,  sixty  feet  in 
length  and  "  fourty "  in  breadth,  and  authorized  some  of  its 
number  to  apply  to  the  committee  empowered  by  the  Town 
in  December,  1730,  to  have  the  portion  of  "the  Burying 
Lot "  designed  for  occupancy,  "  Determined  and  Set  out." 

This  resolve  to  abandon  Mrs.  Woodbridge  was,  however, 
attended  with  one  awkwardness.  The  Society  had  twice 
memorialized  the  General  Assembly  for  leave  to  put  its 
house  on  land  given  by  that  lady,  and  the  Assembly  had 
twice  directed  the  Society  to  build  there.  That  direction 
was  still  in  force.  The  Society  rose  to  the  occasion.  A  vote 
was  passed,  the  26th  day  of  April,  which  first  brings  the 
arduousness  of  the  enterprise  of  encountering  what  had 
hitherto  been  only  called  "  Mrs.  Woodbridges  barn,"  dis- 
tinctly and  even  pathetically  before  us  : 

"  This  Society  taking  into  Consideration  the  Great  Charg 
of  moving  Mrs.  Woodbridges  Great  Barn,  Cowhousen,  Long 
House,  with  all  theire  underpinings  &c ;  the  hazard  after  all 
if  they  should  fall  Down  ;  and  then  we  must  be  at  the 
Expense  of  Building  a  New  Barn  of  30  feet  in  breadth  and 
fifty  in  Length,  all  or  either  of  which  would  Greatly  weaken 
&  Disenable  us  in  Building  oure  Meeting  House  ....  it  is 
Voated  ....  to  address  the  General  Assembly  in  May  next 
that  we  may  have  Liberty  to  set  our  Meeting  House  partly 
on  the  Burying  lot  and  partly  on  Capt.  Nathaniel  Hooker's 
Lot." 

The  Assembly  compassionated  the  appeal,  and  resolved  at 
its  session  in  May,  1737: 


286  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1732-1747. 

"This  Assembly  having  considered  the  affair  with  the 
several  places  proposed  to  build  the  house  on,  do  now  resolve 
and  determine  that  the  south  east  part  of  the  burying  lot  in 
Hartford,  with  part  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Hooker's  lot  adjoyn- 
ing  thereto  shall  be  the  place  to  erect  a  meeting  house  upon 
by  and  for  said  society,  and  do  order  said  society  to  proceed 
to  build  accordingly."  "' 


'^  Col.  Records,  viii,  p.  no.  It  is  not,  perhaps,  surprising,  in  view  of  the  general 
constitution  of  the  feminine,  not  to  say  the  human  mind,  that  Mrs.  Woodbridge 
did  not  altogether  enjoy  this  treatment  of  her. 

She  withdrew  attendance  from  the  First  Church  worship  and  went  to  the  Sec- 
ond Church.  The  Society  re-deeded  the  l^nd  to  her  (not,  however,  till  after 
request  made  by  her)  on  the  7th  of  October,  1737.  And  on  the  29th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1738,  the  following  vote  was  adopted  :  "  Whereas  this  Society  have  reason 
to  think  that  some  things  which  have  happened  Relating  to  the  place  of  Setting 
a  Meeting  House  hath  been  Greavous  to  Mrs.  Abigail  Woodbridge,  Rellict  of 
our  Late  Reverend  &  Worthy  Pastour  which  has  occasioned  her  withdrawal 
from  us,  We  would  signify  unto  her  that  we  have  a  Grateful  Sense  of  the  Gener- 
ous Regard  she  hath  shown  to  this  society  in  time  past,  and  hope  she  will  not 
Remember  whatsoever  hath  been  greavous  to  her  in  the  affaire  aforesaid,  and 
that  her  Return  to  this  Society  is  what  we  desire  and  should  Greatly  Rejoyce 
in."  This  vote  was  conveyed  to  Mrs.  Woodbridge  by  a  committee,  of  which 
Capt.  Hez.  Wyllys  was  chairman.  The  lady  was  not  implacable.  She  returned 
to  the  congregation,  and  died  in  its  fellowship. 

Mrs.  Woodbridge  was,  the  great-granddaughter  of  Elder  William  Goodwin 
of  Hartford,  and  daughter  of  John  Warren  of  Boston  ;  was  born  May  10,  1676. 
She  married  Richard  Lord  of  Hartford,  Jan.  14,  1692.  After  Mr.  Lord's  death, 
in  1712,  she  married  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  in  1716.  By  him  she  had  one 
child,  Theodore,  baptized  June  23, 17 17,  who  died  young.  Through  her  mother, 
Elizabeth  (Crow)  Warren,  afterward  Wilson,  she  became  the  inheritor  of  the 
original  Elder  Goodwin  lot  in  Hartford,  on  Little  River  and  Main  street,  up  to 
this  time  undivided. 

During  her  husband's  lifetime,  in  1727,  she  gave  a  communion  cup  to  the 
First  Church  in  Hartford,  bearing  her  name  inscribed.  This  cup  the  Church 
sold,  in  1S03,  for  fifteen  dollars.  In  18S3  it  was  re-purchased  by  Wm.  R.  Cone, 
Esq.,  at  an  advance  of  five  hundred  per  cent.,  from  J.  K.  Bradford  of  Peru,  111., 
a  grandson  of  Dr.  Jeremiah  Bradford,  who  bought  it  at  auction  in  1803.  Mr. 
Cone  re-presented  the  cup  to  the  Church,  in  a  letter  dated  May  17,  1S83,  and  on 
Sunday,  June  3d,  it  was  used  again  in  the  communion  service,  after  an  absence 
of  eighty  years. 

Mrs.  Woodbridge  survived  her  second  husband  twenty-two  years,  and  died 
Jan.  I,  1754.  Concerning  one  item  in  her  will,  the. records  of  the  First  Church 
bear  this  memorial :  "  Hartford  Jany  22"*  1755-  Recieved  of  Mr.  Epaphras 
and  Ichabod  Lord,  Executors  to  the  last  will  and  testament  of  Mrs.  Abigail 
Woodbridge,  Six  pounds  Lawful   Money,  it  being  a  legacy  left  by  said   Mrs. 


I732-I747-]  NEW  MEETING-HOUSE.  287 

The  situation  for  the  house  being  now,  after  eleven  years 
confiict,  finally  determined  ;  and  the  Society  having  variously 
resolved  that  the  house  should  be  of  "brick"  and  then  of 
'•  wood ; "  should  be  seventy,  sixty,  and  sixty-six  feet  long, 
and  forty-six,  "  fourty,"  and  forty-six  feet  wide,  operations  at 
length  seriously  commenced.  " 

A  plan  of  the  house  was  drafted  by  Mr.  Cotton  Palmer  of 
Warwick,  R.  I.,  he  being  paid  therefor  ;Ci.  On  Monday, 
June  20,  1737,  work  was  begun  on  the  frame  of  the  new 
edifice.  Sunday,  July  31st,  was  the  last  day  of  public  wor- 
ship in  the  old  house,  some  of  its  materials  being  used  in  the 
new.  The  pulpit  and  suitable  seats  were  ordered  removed 
from  the  church  to  the  State  House,  which  was  to  be  used 
in  the  interval  between  the  two  meeting-houses.  A  grave 
question  shortly  arose,  however,  about  the  bell.  The  bell 
had  been  broken  in  1725,  and  recast  in  1727,  at  the  cost  of 
both  societies.  Overtures  were  made  to  the  Second  Society, 
on  July  4,  1737,  proposing  that  as  the  "vote  of  both  societies 
was  that  the  bell  should  be  hung  in  the  old  church  unti-l  the 
major  part  of  both  societies  agree  to  hang  it  in  another 
place,"  that  the  Second  Society  should  bear  a  "proportion- 
able part"  in  building  "a  steeple  to  hang  the  bell  in  ;"  and 
offering,  if  there  was  any  hesitancy  on  the  part  of  the 
Second  Society  people  to  take  this  course,  to  leave  the 
matter  of  the  "  charge  each  society  shall  be  at  in  hanging 


Woodbridge  to  be  loaned  out  at  Lawful  interest  and  the  interest  to  be  improved 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  poor  members  of  the  first  Church  of  Christ  in 
Hartford.  I  say  reed,  p'  us,  Edward  Dorr,  pastor,  Jos.  Talcott,  John  Edwards, 
Deacons.  The  money  is  loan'^  out  and  Deac"  Edwards  has  the  obligat°." 
What  has  become  of  it .-' 

^^  Mr.  C.  J.  Hoadly's  careful  examination  of  the  construction  accounts  of 
Dea.  John  Edwards,  and  his  articles  on  the  subject  in  the  Conranf,  in  January, 
1868,  leave  little  untold  which  can  be  told  about  the  building  of  the  new  church. 
His  examinations  have  been  liberally  appropriated  in  the  ensuing  paragraphs. 


288  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1732-1747. 

said  bell,"  to  "  three  judicious  disinterested  persons  of  some 
other  society."  No  apparent  arrangement  was,  however, 
arrived  at,  and  the  Society,  on  the  14th  of  July,  ordered  the 
steeple  built. 

August  8th,  the  foundation  work  of  the  house  was  begun. 
Sills  were  laid  September  8th.  Raising  the  frame  lasted 
from  the  13th  to  the  22d.  Mr.  David  Smith  gave  a  barrel 
of  cider  for  the  occasion.  ^10  were  also  paid  for  liquor  for 
this  endeavor.  Rum  "and  sugar  were  furnished  the  men  at 
the  brick  kilns ;  it  being  the  old  New  England  tradition  that 
both  heat  and  cold  alike,  demanded  alcoholic  antidotes.  By 
October  1737,  the  frame  had  been  raised,  the  steeple  partly 
erected,  shingles  and  boards  had  been  procured.  The  roof 
was  covered  in  that  autumn. 

In  May,  1738,  Mr.  Cotton  Palmer  began  to  make  the  spire 
above  the  bell-deck,  for  which  he  was  to  have  ^250.  The 
gilded  cock  and  ball  which  surmounted  it  cost  £s^  ^3^-  ^d. 
On  June  5  th  it  was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Palmer  ^^700  to  finish 
the  body  part  of  the  meeting-house,  "  materials  being  found 
him  ; "  a  sum  which  Mr.  Palmer  apparently  thought  too  small, 
and  the  fixing  of  which  seems  to  have  cost  the  Society  a 
year's  time.  Next  year  ;^8oo,  exclusive  of  the  cost  of  the 
masons'  work,  was  tendered,  and  Mr.  Palmer  began  to  labor 
in  May.  The  masons  began  plastering  on  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  on  the  23d  of  December,  1739,  the  house  was 
finished,  save  the  stepstones,  which  were  not  set  in  place  till 
the  summer  of  1740,  and  "a  small  matter  to  be  done  to  the 
steeple." 

This  house  stood  sidewise  to  the  street,  its  steeple  on  the 
north  end.  There  was  a  door  at  the  south  end,  another  on 
the  east  side,  and  another  under  the  steeple  on  the  north. 
The  pulpit  was  on  the  west  side,  and  over  it  a  sounding- 


I732-I747-]  NEW  MEETING-HOUSE.  289 

board,  and   behind    it  a  curtain,  which,  with  its  rings  and 
trimmings,  cost  £^2  "^s.  yd.'" 

Dea.  John  Edwards,  whose  record  of  accounts  gives  many 
of  the  minor  details  of  the  building  above-mentioned,  writes 
on  the  cover  of  his  book — very  much  in  the  spirit  of  Nehe- 
miah's  rehearsal  of  his  pains  at  Jerusalem — that  he  had  taken 
pen  in  hand  about  5,000  times  in  the  affair.  He  reckons  up 
196  persons  engaged  in  the  undertaking,  of  whom  he  marks 
124  as  dead  by  October  1767,  He,  himself,  died  in  May 
1769." 

18 "  Within  the  h')use,  at  the  head  of  the  '  Great  Alley,'  which,  not  obstructed  now 
as  in  the  former  one,  by  the  bell-ringer  and  his  rope,  extended  from  the  front  door 
westward,  the  pulpit  arose  to  an  altitude  easily  commanding  every  foot  of  the  sur- 
rounding galleries,  furnished  with  an  imposing  canopy  or  sounding-board,  and 
the  handsome  window  hangings  behind.  Beside  the  cushioned  desk  was  placed 
a  new  hour-glass,  its  case  of  a  model  and  finish  more  pretentious  than  its  pre- 
decessors. Mr.  Seth  Young  thought  the  Society  could  well  afford  to  pay  £6 
for  it,  but  the  bill  was  settled  for  ^5  los.  id.  Another  aisle  probably  crossed 
the  house  from  the  north  or  tower  entrance  to  that  at  the  south  end.  Plain 
seats  or  slips  occupied  most  of  the  middle  of  the  audience-room  at  first,  some 
pews  being  placed  probably  at  either  side  of  the  pulpit,  and  perhaps  extending 
as  far  as  the  north  and  south  doors.  Mr.  Gerard  Spencer  turned  something 
over  nine  hundred  'bannisters'  for  the  tops  of  them.  In  1750  the  Society 
ordered  four  more  to  be  built,  two  on  each  side  of  the  '  Broad  Alley,'  and  others 
from  time  to  time  were  placed  there  as  wanted,  until  most  of  this  part  of  the 
floor  was  occupied  by  them.  The  windows,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  house,  at 
least,  appear  to  have  been  fitted  and  hung  with  pulle3's  procured  by  John  Beau- 
champ  from  Boston.  Other  persons  at  sundry  times  delivered  considerable 
quantities  of  iron  'to  make  waits  for  y'^  windows,'  so  that  these  convenient 
appliances  at  present  to  be  found  in  our  houses  are  not  of  so  modern  invention 
as  some  of  us  had  supposed.  Cords  to  hang  the  sashes  were  doubtless  made 
here  ;  various  purchases  of  hemp  and  flax  '  to  make  rope  '  are  noted  upon  Mr. 
Edwards'  book,  and  one  large  rope  '  with  block'  for  the  raising  was  bought  at 
Northampton."     Dea.  Rowland  Swift,  First  Church  Commemorative  Exercises, 

PP-  156-157- 

'^  Dea.  John  Edwards  was  son  of  Richard  Edwards,  by  his  second  wife, 
Mary  Talcott,  and  born  February  27,  1694.  He  was  grandson  of  William 
Edwards,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town.  Rev.  Timothy  Edwards  of  East 
Windsor  was  his  half-brother  ;  being  Richard  Edwards'  second  child  by  his 
first  wife  Eliz.  Tuthill.  On  the  2d  day  of  March,  1747,  the  Society  voted  £Zo 
"  to  Mr.  John  Edwards  for  his  care  and  service  in  building  y*  meeting  house." 


2go  THE    FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

On  the  1 8th  of  December,  1739,3  committee  was  appointed 
"to  Seat  oure  meeting  House,"  with  the  advice  of  Governor 
Talcott ;  and  a  vote  adopted  that  "no  Lecture"  be  preached 
in  it  "  before  we  meet  in  it  on  the  Sabbath."  The  dedication 
services  took  place  December  30th,  Rev.  Daniel  Wadsworth 
preaching  the  sermon,""  from  Haggai,  ii,  9.  The  glory  of  this 
latter  house  shall  be  greater  tJian  of  the  former,  saith  the 
Lord  of  Hosts. 

The  ''Doctrine"  of  the  sermon  is  "  that  it  is  Christ's  Pres- 
ence in  it,  that  renders  a  House  of  Publick  Worship  truly- 
glorious."  And  as  this  pamphlet  gives  us  our  only  clue  to 
Mr.  Wadsworth's  style  of  preaching,  it  may  be  well  enough 
to  quote  one  or  two  brief  passages  : 

^'Improvement  VH.  Let  us  all  be  Exhorted  to  Bless  and 
Praise  AlmigJity  God  for  that  he  J las  favoured  us  zvith  so  con- 
venient and  decent  a  House  to  WorsJiip  in.  It  is  now  some 
months  more  than  One  hundred  and  three  years  since  the 
publick  worship  of  God  was  first  set  up  in  this  Town  by  our 
Pious  Progenitors,  who  left  Father  and  Mother,  Brothers  & 
Sisters,  Houses  and  a  pleasant  Land,  and  some  of  them  Cir- 
cumstances of  ease  and  plenty  with  respect  to  the  things  of 
this  world,  and  followed  the  Lord  in  a  Wilderness,  a  Land 
not  sown  ;  that  there  they  might  serve  him  in  peace  in  the 
manner  they  apprehended  most  agreeable  to  his  Will :  They 
are  dead  and  buried  and  their  Graves  are  with  us.  And  the 
House  which  they  in  the  Infant  State  of  the  Town  prepared 

to  Worship  God  in,  is  also  gone Yet  blessed  be  God 

that  there  yet  remains  so  much  care  and  concern  about  Reli- 
gion, that  by  his  Blessing  on  our  Endeavours  we  are  provided 
with  Another  House  for  Publick  Worship,  more  beautiful, 

comely  &  decent  than  the  former Improvement  VIII. 

Finally,  Let  us  all  be  instant  and  fervent  in  Prayer  for  a 
Blessing  on  the  Word  Preached  and  on  the  Sacraments  Ad- 


'^'^  The  sermon  was  printed  at  New  London  in   1640,  by  T.  Green,  4",  p.  28. 
A  copy  is  in  the  Historical  Society  Library. 


1732-1747-]  NEW  MEETING-HOUSE.  29I 

ministered  here.  Let  us  be  Earnest  in  prayer  to  God  that  his 
Word  may  have  free  course  here  and  be  glorified  ;  and  that 
Sacramental  Administrations  may  quicken,  comfort  and 
edifie  us,  and  abundantly  promote  our  growth  in  grace. 
Forget  not  to  pray  that  the  Gospel  in  the  dispensation  of  it 
may  be  the  pozver  of  God  to  the  salvation  of  many.  And  for 
Me,  to  whom  tJid  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints  is  this  grace 
given  that  I  should  preach  the  UnsearcJiable  Riches  of  Christ  ; 
That  Utterance  may  be  given  nnto  me  that  I  may  open  my 
month  boldly  to  make  known  the  Mystery  of  the  Gospel,  that 
so  many  may  be  Born  unto  God  in  this  House  ;  That  the 
Lord  may  count  when  he  writeth  up  the  people,  That  this 
and  that  man  tvas  born  here.  Let  us  pray  that  those  who 
Minister  to  the  Lord  here,  from  Time  to  Time,  may  be 
cloathed  tvith  Salvation  and  that  the  Saints  of  the  Lord  may 
shout  for  joy.  That  this  Church  which  is  part  of  the  Mys- 
tical Body  of  Christ  may  continually  be  Edified." 

And  so,  at  last,  the  new  church-edifice  which  had  succeeded 
to  the  one  which  stood,  as  Mr.  Wadsworth  says,  "  99  years  " 
in  Meeting-house  Yard,  was  fairly  dedicated  and  entered  on. 

But,  alas,  things  are  never  quite  right  in  this  world.  A 
Society  meeting  was  held  on  the  same  day  as  the  dedication 
exercises,  and  "Mr.  Joseph  Gilbert  jr.  presented  a  Memoriall 
setting  forth  Sundry  Greavances  respecting  the  seating  of 
oure  Meeting  House,  and  more  Especially  respecting  the 
Committy  Seating  Him."  The  matter  was  referred,  but 
whether  the  "greavances"  of  Mr.  Gilbert  were  removed  does 
not  appear.  Such  grievances  were  almost  inevitably  inci- 
dent to  the  usage  of  dignifying  the  house.  The  modern 
method  of  letting  everybody  set  his  own  valuation  on  himself, 
is  attended  with  at  least  one  advantage. 

The  completion  of  the  meeting-house  and  the  termination 
of  the  long  controversy  attending  its  location,  must  'have 
been  very  welcome  to  Mr.  Wadsworth  and  the  more  spiritual 


292  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1732-1747. 

portion  of  his  Church.  These  years  of  controversy  had 
been,  naturally,  years  of  religious  barrenness.  From  June 
1733'  when  the  more  active  phase  of  the  meeting-house 
trouble  began,  to  May  1737,  when  the  order  of  the  Court 
finally  locating  the  edifice  ended  it,  only  fifteen  persons 
came  into  full  communion,  and  only  nineteen  even  owned 
the  covenant.  Meantime,  only  so  far  away  as  Windsor,  a 
very  remarkable  revival  had  taken  place,  under  the  ministry 
of  Rev.  Jonathan  Marsh.  Other  places  in  Connecticut,  also 
— Coventry,  Lebanon,  Durham,  New  Haven,  Hebron,  Bol- 
ton, Groton — were  the  scenes  of  similar  awakenings;  and 
very  eminently,  Northampton  in  Massachusetts,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  preaching  of  Jonathan  Edwards.'"'  The  year 
1735  is,  indeed,  commonly  taken  as  the  commencement  year 
of  that  period  of  revivals  which  has  passed  into  New  Eng- 
land history  as  the  era  of  the  "Great  Awakening."  It  was 
however  the  year  1740,  just  at  the  opening  of  which  the 
new  meeting-house  here  in  Hartford  was  dedicated,  which 
was  the  beginning  point  of  the  most  interesting  and  impor- 
tant period  of  that  revival  time."'  The  three  or  four  follow- 
ing years  wrought  a  change  almost  amounting  to  a  spiritual 
revolution  in  the  moral  condition  of  the  churches. 

It  was  in  1740  that  Rev.  George  Whitefield  made  his  first 
preaching  tour  through  New  England.  The  religious  condi- 
tion   of  the   community   was    eminently    favorable   for   his 

21  Edwards'  Faithful  Narrative,  pp.  42-46. 

-^  There  is  an  interesting  letter  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Trumbull, 
addressed  to  Rev.  Daniel  Wadsworth  by  Rev.  Philip  Doddridge,  acknowledg- 
ing the  receipt  of  one  from  Mr.  Wadsworth,  written  Sept.  15,  1740,  in  which 
Mr.  Wadsworth  had  obviously  spoken  with  cheer  about  the  state  of  matters 
here;  and  Mr.  Doddridge  congratulates  him  on  the  "happy  situation  both  of 
your  civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs."  Mr.  Doddridge's  letter  is  dated  at  North- 
ampton, England,  March  6,  1741  ;  and  speaks  of  Mr.  Wadswortli's  letter  as 
arriving  "  this  evening." 


I732-I747-I  WHITEFIELDIAN   ERA.  293 

success.  The  memory  of  the  awakenings  in  many  places 
from  three  to  five  years  before  was  still  fresh,  and  their 
beneficent  results  were  plainly  visible.  Mr.  Whitefield  came 
with  every  advantage  which  kindled  expectation  and  fore- 
running rumor  of  transcendent  eloquence  could  impart.  He 
was  already  famous  in  England.  He  had  just  completed  a 
preaching  tour  through  the  middle  and  southern  Colonies  of 
this  country,  which  had  been  attended  by  intense  excitement 
and  admiration,  and  by  apparent  spiritual  success.  In 
August  1740,  he  was  invited  by  several  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished clergymen  and  members  of  the  churches  of 
Boston,  to  come  to  that  place  and  to  New  England.  He 
responded  to  the  call,  arriving  at  Newport  on  September 
4th.  His  youth,  his  eloquence,  his  peculiar  position  as  an 
Episcopal  minister  of  the  established  church  in  full  sympathy 
with  the  doctrines  and  the  piety  of  the  Puritans,  attracted 
universal  attention  and  general  good-will.  The  whole  region 
east  of  the  Hudson  may  be  said  to  have  been  on  tip-toe  to 
see  him.  A  general  expectation  of  great  results  from  his 
ministrations  went  before  him,  and  prepared  the  way.  In- 
deed, a  careful  and  sympathetic  historian  of  the  "Great 
Awakening"  expresses  the  suspicion  that  the  outburst  of 
religious  emotion  which  was  ready  at  any  time  that  year  to 
flame  out,  was  suppressed  and  kept  back  to  await  the  coming 
of  the  eloquent  evangelist."' 

His  success  at  Boston  was  triumphant.  The  churches 
were  not  able  to  contain  the  crowds  who  thronged  to  put 
themselves  under  the  charm  of  his  fervid  utterances.  He 
was  obliged  to  hold  meetings  on  the  Common,  and  at  various 
places  out  of  doors.  His  transcendant  voice  is  said  to  have 
rung  clear  in  the  ear  of  audiences  of  twenty  thousand.     He 


'-*  Tracy,  Great  Aivakening,  p.  83. 


294  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

preached  in  the  adjacent  region  about  Boston  as  far  as 
Marblehead;  sometimes  twelve  or  sixteen  times  a  week. 
He  took  up  large  collections  for  his  Georgia  Orphan-Home, 
He  was  entertained  by  the  chief  men  of  the  Colony,  both  of 
Church  and  State.  No  such  general  prostration  of  a  com- 
munity before  one  man,  and  he  a  gospel  preacher  of  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  was  ever  known  in  New  England  before, 
and  none  has  been  known  since. 

Thus  heralded  and  adored  Mr.  Whitefield  came  westward. 
Leaving  Boston,  Monday,  October  13th,  "kissed"  by  Gover- 
nor Belcher,  whom  he  left  bathed  in  tears,  he  preached  his 
way  from  point  to  point  in  Massachusetts,  till  on  Friday, 
October  17th,  he  reached  Northampton.  Sunday  evening  he 
left  Northampton,  accompanied  by  Jonathan  Edwards,  who 
attended  him  as  far  as  the  house  of  Jonathan's  father,  Timo- 
thy, at  East  Windsor ;  preaching  on  Monday  at  Westfield 
and  Springfield,  and  on  Tuesday  at  Suffield,  by  the  way. 
Tuesday  afternoon  he  preached  at  East  Windsor,  and  there 
Jonathan  Edwards  had  a  conversation  with  him  to  which 
there  will  be  occasion  hereafter  to  refer.  Next  day,  Wednes- 
day, October  22d,  he  was  here  at  Hartford,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing preached — doubtless  in  the  new  meeting-house — to  an 
audience,  as  he  says  in  his  journal,  of  "many  thousands."" 
The  afternoon  of  this  same  day  he  preached  at  Wethersfield, 
where  he  issued  a  card,  published  in  the  Boston  News-Letter, 
canceling  certain  preaching  appointments. 


^■^  Whitefield's  estimates  of  the  numbers  of  his  hearers  have  to  be  taken  with 
a  good  deal  of  allowance  for  his  vivid  imagination.  He  speaks  of  preaching 
to  "six  thousand"  in  the  Old  South  Church  at  Boston,  and  to  "about  six  thou- 
sand" in  the  New  North  Church  at  Boston,  "besides  great  nmnbers  about  the 
doors."  The  Old  South  still  stands.  Its  recent  seating  arrangement  gave 
room  for  more  people  than  when  Whitefield  preached  in  it.  A  careful  estimate 
of  its  capacity  gave  seats  for  twelve  hundred  and  sixteen.  It  is  not  probable 
that  twenty-five  hundred  people  were  ever  in  it  at  once.  The  Hartford  Church 
would  probably  have  been  jammed  to  suffocation  with  twelve  hundred. 


1732-1747]  WHITEFIELDIAN   ERA.  295 

From  Wethersfield  he  went  via  Middletown  and  Walling- 
ford  to  New  Haven,  preaching  at  each  of  these  places  by 
the  way.  Thence,  after  holding  several  services  in  New 
Haven,  he  departed,  preaching  as  he  went,  through  Milford, 
Stratford,  Fairfield,  and  Norwalk,  to  Rye  and  New  York.  Of 
Mr.  Russell  of  Middletown,  Whitefield  says,  "  O  that  all 
ministers  were  like  minded." 

This  is  one  of  the  indications  at  this  early  date  that  all  the 
ministers  of  the  Colony  did  not  equally  approve  the  methods 
and  utterances  of  the  young  evangelist.  But  it  is  probable 
that  there  was  no  considerable  public  dissent  at  the  time 
expressed  by  many.  The  records  of  this  Church  show  an 
accession  of  twenty-five  to  its  full  communion  membership 
in  the  twelve  months  after  Mr.  Whitefield's  transit  through 
Hartford,  and  of  eleven  to  its  covenant. 

These  seem  no  great  results,  and  they  are  the  most  marked 
by  far,  'of  those  belonging  to  any  one  year  of  the  Great 
Awakening  period  in  this  Church  ;  but  they  show  a  health- 
ful change  of  proportion  in  the  members  covenanting  and 
the  numbers  admitted  to  a  fellowship  which  implied  some 
religious  experience." 

Upon  that  particular  phase  of  operations  which  Mr.  White- 
field  advocated  and  represented,  it  is  probable  both  the  Hart- 
ford ministers  and  both  the  Hartford  churches  looked  askance, 
and  perhaps  did  so  equally.  Trumbull  does,  indeed,  men- 
tion Mr.  Whitman  with  a  group  of  others,  who  were  in  gen- 
eral supporters  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  as  favoring  "  the  work  in 


25  The  interest  in  Hartford  was  great  enough,  however,  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  that  excellent  man.  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  of  Lyme,  who  came  here  in 
March,  1741,  to  learn  what  he  ought  to  believe  concerning  the  "surprising  oper- 
ations" here,  of  which  the  reports  were  spread  abroad. 

The  records  of  the  Second  Church  of  Hartford  of  the  period  are  lost.  Those 
of  the  church  in  West  Hartford  show  an  accession  of  forty-five  members  in 
1741,  and  seven  in  1742. 


296  THE    FIRST    CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

Connecticut."  And  so  doubtless  he  was  a  favorer  of  the 
revival  of  God's  work,  and  so  doubtless  was  Wadsworth. 

But  there  is  evidence  enough,  as  will  be  seen  shortly,  that 
whether  right  or  wrong  in  their  views,  there  was  no  separa- 
tion of  judgment  between  Wadsworth  and  Whitman  upon 
this  question.  Or  if  so  much  is  to  be  very  doubtfully  con- 
ceded to  Trumbull's  collocation  of  names,  as  to  suggest  the 
possibility  of  Whitman's  favoring  a  first  Whitefieldian  visit, 
he  certainly  did  not  favor  a  second. 

Why  was  this,  and  why  was  the  very  awakening  which  so 
marvellously  blessed  Connecticut  and  blesses  it  to  this  day, 
the  occasion  for  a  sharp  conflict  of  feeling  and  judgment 
among  the  ministry  and  the  churches,  leading  to  many  de- 
plorable actions  and  utterances  on  either  side.''  The  reason 
is  not  far  to  seek.  It  has  been  acutely  remarked  that  "  the 
Whitefield  of  history  is  not  exactly  the  Whitefield  of  popular 
traditions.""'  The  Whitefield  of  the  historic  pilgrimage  of 
1740,  was  a  young  man  of  only  twenty-five  ;  of  burning  elo- 
quence and  impassioned  zeal,  but  of  more  enthusiasm  than 
judgment;  denunciative,  censorious,  uncharitable;  lending 
the  weight  of  his  tremendous  popular  influence  to  the  encour- 
agement of  those  fanatic  extravagances  of  experience  and 
of  expression  into  which  intense  religious  excitement  is 
always  prone  to  degenerate.  Coming  from  England,  where 
possibly  in  his  time,  the  accusation  of  "carnality"  and  "un- 
regeneracy  "  might  perhaps  have  been  flung  abroad  against 
the  ministry  of  the  ecclesiastical  establishment,  without  seri- 
ous damage,  except  indeed  to  charity,  he  gave  tongue  to 
such  accusations  in  this  country  of  Puritan  birth  and  tradi- 
tions, where  certainly  he  had  little  if  anything  to  justify 
them. 


-®  Dr.  Bacon's  Norwich  Address.     Con.  Eccl.  Hist.  Conn.,  p.  53. 


I732-I747-]  WHITEFIELDIAN   ERA.  207 

Before  he  had  yet  set  foot  on  Connecticut  soil,  the  rumor 
of  his  habit  in  this  respect  caused  even  a  letter  of  invitation 
addressed  to  him  by  the  Eastern  Consociation  of  Fairfield, 
to  caution  him  against  "  personal  Reflections  to  wound  the 
Characters  of  others  who  have  been  generally  accepted 
among  Christians  for  their  piety." 

At  Suffield  he  inveighed  against  "  unconverted  ministers 
as  the  bane  of  the  Christian  Church."  At  Windsor  the 
calm-minded  Jonathan  Edwards  conversed  with  him  about 
his  practice  of  "judging  other  persons  to  be  unconverted," 
and  about  the  large  place  Mr.  Whitefield  accorded  to  the 
enthusiastic  "  visions "  of  new-awakened  enquirers  or  con- 
verts ;  a  conversation  which  Mr.  Edwards  says  Whitefield  did 
not  seem  to  be  offended  at,  but  that  he  "  liked  me  not  so  well 
for  opposing  these  J:hings." 

But  the  caution  was  useless.  At  New  Haven,  three  days 
later — and  of  all  audiences  to  the  college  boys — he  "  spoke 
very  closely  to  the  students,  and  showed  the  dreadful  ill  con- 
sequences of  an  unconverted  ministry  ; "  a  topic  he  followed 
up  all  the  way  to  New  York.  It  is  hardly  strange  that  men 
in  the  ministry  much  the  elders  of  this  juvenile  evangelist, 
conscious  of  their  own  sincerity  and  trustful  of  their  own 
conversion,  should  disrelish  being  practically  denied  all 
"savor  of  godliness,"  for  doubting  the  wisdom  of  some  of  Mr. 
Whitefield's  utterances,  and  the  judiciousness  of  some  of  his 
measures.  But  to  doubt  was  to  be  accounted  an  opposer  of 
God's  work,  and  went  far,  of  itself,  to  show  that  a  man  had 
— as  David  Brainard  said  of  Tutor  Whittelsey,  who  became 
soon  after  pastor  of  the  church  in  New  Haven — "  no  more 
grace  than  a  chair." 

But  all  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  censorious  utterances  might  have 
been  passed  over  in  recognition  of  his  youth  and  his  devo- 
38 


2g8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

tion,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  actions  of  his  followers. 
Many  of  these,  ordained  ministers,  either  having  no  proper 
charge  or  forsaking  it,  went  through  the  Colony  at  their  own 
will,  disregardful  of  the  wishes  of  the  settled  clergy,  encour- 
aging discontent  with  the  usual  ministrations  of  the  pastors, 
and  disseminating  crude  and  enthusiastic  opinions  as  to  the 
tests  of  piety  and  the  methods  of  attaining  it.  A  numerous 
crop  of  lay  exhorters,  whose  zeal  was  a  substitute  for  knowl- 
edge, thrust  themselves  into  the  function  of  preaching,  at  no 
other  appointment  than  their  own,  and  were  loud  and  clam- 
orous largely  in  proportion  to  their  ignorance.  Such  per- 
sons especially  put  great  stress  upon  "visions"  and  "voices" 
in  the  awakening  stages  of  the  religious  life ;  professed  infal- 
lible ability  to  discern  spirits,  especially  the  spirits  of  minis- 
ters ;  and  passed  sudden  and  damnatory  judgment  on  all  who 
doubted  their  ability  absolutely  to  know  and  declare  the  mind 
of  the  Lord. 

So  manifest  had  become  the  evil  of  this  state  of  things 
within  ten  months  after  the  passage  of  Mr.  Whitefield 
through  the  Colony,  that  an  unusually  full  meeting"  of  the 
Hartford  North  Association,  on  the  nth  of  August  1741, 
discussed  and  answered  the  following  questions  amoiig 
others  : 

"  Whether  any  weight  is  to  be  laid  on  those  preachings, 
cryings  out,  faintings  and  convulsions  which  sometimes 
attend  y^  terrifying  language  of  some  preachers  and  others, 
as  Evidences  of  or  necessary  to  a  genuine  conviction  of  sin, 


^^  Present,  Timothy  Edwards,  East  Windsor  ;  Saml.  Whitman,  Farmington ; 
Saml.  Woodbridge,  East  Hartford ;  Jonathan  Marsh,  Windsor ;  Benj.  Colton, 
West  Hartford ;  Stephen  Steel,  Tolland  ;  Thomas  White,  Bolton ;  Daniel  Ful- 
ler, Jeremiah  Curtis,  Farmington ;  Elnathan  Whitman,  Hartford  2d ;  Daniel 
Wadsvvorth,  Hartford  ist ;  Samuel  Tudor,  Poquonnock ;  Andrew  Bartholo- 
mew, Harwinton ;  Hezekiah  Bissell,  Wintonbury ;  Jonathan  Marsh,  jr.,  New- 
Hartford.     Ms.  Records. 


1732-1747]  WHITEFIELDIAN  ERA.  299 

humiliation  and  preparation  for  Christ.  Agreed  in  the 
Negative,  as  also  that  there  is  no  weight  to  be  Laid  upon 
those  visions  or  visional  discoveries  by  some  of  -Late  pre- 
tended to,  of  Heaven  or  Hell,  or  y^  body  or  blood  of  Christ, 
viz.  as  represented  to  y^  eyes  of  y^  body. 

"  Whether  y^  assertion  of  some  Itinerant  preachers  that 
y  pure  gospel  and  especially  y*^  doctrines  of  Regeneration 
and  Justification  by  faith  are  not  preached  in  these  churches, 
their  rash  censurings  of  y^  body  of  our  clergy  as  Carnal  and 
unconverted  men,  and  notoriously  unfit  for  office  is  not  such 
a  sinful  and  scandalous  violation  of  the  fifth  and  ninth  com- 
mandments of  ye  moral  Law  as  ought  to  be  testified  against, 
and  such  preachers  not  be  admitted  to  preach  in  our  pulpits 
and  parishes  until  they  have  as  publickly  manifested  their 
repentance  as  they  have  given  out  their  false  and  scandalous 
assertions.     Agreed  in  y^  affirmative." 

At  the  same  time  the  Association  considered  this  further 
question  :  "  What  is  to  be  thought  of  the  religious  concern 
that  is  at  this  day  so  general  in  y^^  Land  } "  To  which  was 
given  this  answer  : 

"  Wee  trust  and  believe  that  the  holy  Spirit  is  moving 
upon  y?  hearts  of  many,  that  many  have  received  of  late  a 
Saving  Change  in  many  of  our  Towns,  and  hope  and  desire 
that  through  grace  many  may  yet  be  savingly  wrought  upon; 
but  there  are  sundry  things  attending  this  work  which  are 
unfruitful  and  of  a  dangerous  Tendency,  and  therefore  advise 
both  ministers  and  people  in  their  Respective  stations  cau- 
tiously to  guard  against  everything  of  that  nature,  and  wee 
for  ourselves  seriously  profess  our  willingness  to  encourage 
y^  good  work  of  God's  Spirit  agreeable  to  his  Word  to  y'^ 
utmost  of  our  power." 

But  the  fire  of  enthusiasm  could  not  be  extinguished.  It 
grew  fiercer  and  spread  wider.  One  of  those  who  most 
actively  fanned  its  flames  was  Rev.  James  Davenport  of 
Southold,  L.  I.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Davenport  of 
Stamford,  and  great-grandson  of  Rev.  John  Davenport,  the 


300  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

clerical  founder  of  New  Haven  Colony.  Whitefield  had  met 
him  at  Stamford  in  October  1740,  and  afterward  in  New 
Jersey,  and  pronounced  him  the  "  nearest  to  God  of  any  one 
he  had  known."  Being  swept  away  in  the  general  excite- 
ment of  the  time,  Davenport  abandoned  his  own  parish,  and 
set  out  on  an  itinerant  mission  among  the  churches.  He 
was  a  man  of  a  wild  sort  of  vehement  eloquence,  and  where- 
ever  he  went  created  great  excitement.  He  denounced 
ministers  generally,  as  unconverted,  and  called  on  peojole  to 
abandon  them.  He  wrought  upon  the  excited  imaginations 
of  his  hearers,  encouraging  wild  outcries  of  anguish  or 
rapture;  declaring  in  volcanic  utterances  that  "he  saw  Hell- 
Flames  flashing  in  their  faces,"  and  that  many  of  them  before 
his  eyes  were  "  now !  now !  dropping  down  to  Hell."  On 
one  occasion  he  is  reported  by  an  eyewitness  thus :  "He 
came  out  of  the  pulpit,  and  stripped  off  his  upper  garments 
and  got  up  into  the  seats,  and  leapt  up  and  down  some- 
time, and  clapt  his  hands  and  cried  out,  the  War  goes  on, 
the  Fight  goes  on,  the  devil  goes  down,  the  devil  goes  down; 
and  then  betook  himself  to  stamping  and  screaming  most 
dreadfully."  '"' 

In  July  1 741,  he  invaded  Stonington,  and  preached  with 
great  effect,  and  it  is  said  also  with  some  lasting  beneficial 
results.  In  August  he  called  on  Mr.  Hart  of  Saybrook  for 
the  use  of  his  pulpit,  at  the  same  time  admitting  that  he  was 
accustomed  to  condemn  ministers  as  unconverted.  A  vain 
attempt  was  made  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Hart,  Beckwith,  Worth- 
ington,  and  Nott  to  come  to  some  Christian  understanding 
with  him.  He  preached  some  time  at  Saybrook,  against  the 
remonstrance  of  the  pastor,  though  not  in  the  church.  He 
went  to  New  Haven  in  September.     Mr.  Noyes,  the  pastor 


'^^  Chauncy's  Seasonable  Thoughts  o>i  the  State  of  Religion,  p.  99. 


1732-1747]  WHITEFIELDIAN  ERA.  3OI 

of  the  church,  gave  him  his  pulpit,  but  he  presently  declared 
Mr.  Noyes  "unconverted,"  and  originated  a  quarrel  which 
split  the  church  into  two  permanently  dissevered  portions."^ 

Prosecuting  his  work  in  this  manner  and  with  these 
results,  it  is  not  strange  that  accustomed  as  the  legislature 
was  to  be  invoked,  and  to  interpose  without  being  invoked, 
on  almost  all  ecclesiastic  occasions,  Mr.  Davenport  should 
have  encountered  the  attention  of  the  civil  authority. 

He  was  arrested  on  a  warrant  f-rom  the  General  Assembly, 
together  with  Rev.  Benjamin  Pomeroy  of  Hebron,  on  com- 
plaint from  Ripton  parish  in  Stratford,  alleging  that  Daven- 
port and  Pomeroy  were  there  collecting  assemblies  of  people, 
mostly  children  and  youth,  and  under  pretence  of  religious 
exercises,  were  inflaming  them  with  doctrines  subversive  of 
all  law  and  order. 

The  complaint  was  made  on  the  27th  of  May,  1742,  and 
Davenport  and  Pomeroy  were  brought  before  the  Assembly 
at  Hartford  on  June  ist.  The  hearing  occupied  two  days, 
and  was  in  the  "  meeting-house,"  '"  doubtless  of  the  First 
Society.  The  Assembly  was  in  a  rather  severe  mood.  Rev. 
Isaac  Stiles  of  North  Haven,  had  preached  the  sermon  at 
the  opening  of  this  May  session,  and  had  earnestly  and  even 
violently  inveighed  against  the  disturbances  of  the  time,  and 
the  irregularities  of  doctrine  and  practice  by  which  many  of 
the  warm  advocates  of  the  religious  movement  had  been 
characterized.  Governor  Law,  who  had  shortly  before  suc- 
ceeded Governor  Talcott,  was  a  vigorous  opponent  of  the 


^^  Tracy's  Great  Awakening,  pp.  235-236.  Bacon's  Hist.  Discourses,  pp. 
214-223. 

'^  Boston  News  Letter,  No.  1997.  The  meeting-house  was  often  used  on 
occasions  of  great  public  interest,  as  affording  better  accommodations  for  the 
spectators.  The  proceedings  on  this  occasion  seem  to  have  been  by  Joint 
Assembly.  The  Convention  for  ratifying  the  United  States  Constitution  by  the 
State  of  Connecticut  was  held  in  the  First  Society  meeting-house,  in  1788. 


302  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

new  measures,  and  possibly  had  little  sympathy  with  any 
fervent  type  of  piety.  Under  his  lead,  it  is  alleged,"  the 
Assembly  at  this  May  session  passed  a  most  stringent  law, 
forbidding  any  minister  to  preach  in  any  parish  not  expressly 
under  his  charge,  without  leave  given  from  the  minister  of 
the  parish  and  a  majority  of  the  parishioners  ;  and  imposing 
as  a  penalty  for  the  breach  of  this  enactment,  a  deprivation 
of  all  ecclesiastical  rights  and  the  requirement  of  a  penal 
bond  of  ;^ioo  for  each  offence. 

By  this  same  act,  any  "  foreigner  or  stranger,  that  is  not  an 
inhabitant  of  this  Colony,"  whether  ordained  or  unordained, 
who  should  preach,  teach,  or  publicly  exhort  in  any  town 
within  the  Colony,  without  the  consent  of  the  settled  minis- 
ter and  the  majority  of  the  people,  was  liable  to  arrest  as  a 
"  vagrant  "  and  to  be  sent  out  of  the  Colony."'  The  ground  on 
which  the  Legislature  based  this  extraordinary  enactment,  as 
set  forth  in  the  preamble,  seems  to  be  fhe  assumption  that  the 
Saybrook  Platform  of  1708  was  binding  upon  all  the  churches 
as  the  settled  ecclesiastical  law  of  the  Colony.  So  far  as  that 
assumption  prevailed,  it  was  certainly  wholly  unjustifiable. 
The  Saybrook  Platform  was  binding  only  on  churches  which 
accepted  it.  The  law  by  which  the  legislature  ratified  it  in  re- 
spect to  them,  plainly  expresses  this.  For  years  no  one  had 
imagined  otherwise.  Other  churches  had  all  along  existed, 
organized  on  the  Cambridge  Platform,  and  had  never  ac- 
ceded to  the  Saybrook  system  at  all.  And  the  Assembly 
itself,  in  1730,  had  expressly  declared  that  beside  the  Say- 
brook Platform  churches,  Congregational — as  the  Cambridge 
Platform  churches  were  sometimes  called  —  and  Presbyte- 
rian churches  were  allowed  and  protected  by  law. 

31  Trumbull,  ii,  162. 

82  Col.  Records,  viii,  456-7. 


I732-I747-]  WHITEFIELDIAN  ERA.  303 

This  action,  therefore,  of  this  legislature  of  1742  seems 
to  have  been  based  on  a  false  assumption  of  law  and  facts, 
as  well  as  on  a  violent  infringement  of  what  many  regarded 
as  the  rights  of  nature  and  of  conscience.  The  legislation 
thus  inaugurated  was  followed  up  in  subsequent  years  by 
other  enactments  designed  apparently  to  enforce  the  univer- 
sal reception  of  the  Saybrook  System  ;  producing  in  the 
effort  endless  ecclesiastical  strifes  and  separations,  and  doing 
much  to  bring  disrepute  upon  the  ministry  and  upon  the 
system  these  enactments  were  intended  to  uphold. 

Yet  the  excitement  of  the  time,  and  the  great  disorders 
attending  the  ministrations  of  the  itinerant  evangelists  must 
be  remembered  in  extenuation.  Nor  does  the  Assembly 
seem  to  have  dealt  harshly  with  the  particular  offenders 
whom  we  have  seen  summoned  before  its  bar.  The  trial  as 
has  been  said  lasted  two  days.  The  town  was  in  a  great  state 
of  excitement.  As  the  arrested  ministers  came  out  on  to  the 
meeting-house  steps,  on  the  conclusion  of  the  first  day's 
hearing,  Davenport  began  a  vehement  harangue  to  the 
crowds  about  the  door.  The  sheriff  took  hold  of  his  sleeve 
to  lead  him  away.  "  He  instantly  fell  a  praying.  Lord  !  thou 
knowest  somebody's  got  hold  of  my  sleeve.  Strike  them. 
Lord,  strike  them."  Mr.  Pomeroy  also  called  out  to  the 
sheriff,  "Take  heed  how  you  do  that  heaven-daring  action  ; 
the  God  of  Heaven  will  surely  avenge  it  on  you.  Strike 
them.  Lord,  strike  them." 

The  partisans  on  either  side  rushed  in  to  aid  or  to  resist 
the  sheriff.  For  awhile  it  looked  as  if  the  prisoners  would  be 
snatched  away  from  him.  But  they  were  finally  taken  to  a 
neighboring  house ;  the  disappointed  portion  of  the  mob  cry- 
ing out,  "  We  will  have  five  to  one  on  our  side  to-morrow." 
The  night  was  little  less  than  a  riot.   An  angry  multitude  gath- 


304  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

ered  round  the  house  where  the  two  ministers  were  taken, 
and  were  with  great  difficulty  dispersed  by  the  magistrates. 
In  the  morning  forty  militia  men  were  ordered  on  duty  to 
suppress  disorder.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  day's  hearing, 
the  Assemby  declared,  that 

"The  behaviour,  conduct  and  doctrines  advanced  by  the  said 
James  Davenport  do,  and  have  a  natural  tendency  to,  disturb 
and  destroy  the  peace  and  order  of  this  government ;  yet  it 
further  appears  to  this  Assembly  that  the  said  Davenport  is 
under  the  influence  of  enthusiastical  impressions  and  influ- 
ences, and  thereby  disturbed  in  the  rational  faculties  of  his 
mind,  and  therefore  to  be  pitied  and  compassionated,  and  not 
to  be  treated  as  otherwise  he  might  be." 

They  therefore  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  respecting 
"strangers  and  foreigners"  just  passed,  ordered  him  to  be 
sent  to  Southold  out  of  the  jurisdiction.  And  so,  about  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  between  "  two  files  of  musketiers," 
Mr.  Davenport  was  marched  from  the  meeting-house  down 
to  the  Connecticut  river,  and  put  aboard  the  vessel  of  one 
Mr.  Whitmore,  at  anchor  there ;  who  having  received  his 
charge  set  sail  immediately,  Mr,  Pomeroy  was  discharged 
without  penalty.  He  was  an  excellent  man  ;  an  enthusiastic 
supporter  of  Whitefield  and  the  new  measures ;  had  a  long 
and  honorable  ministry  at  Hebron,  though  deprived  and  sus- 
pended for  some  seven  years  from  his  legal  rights  in  his  par- 
ish, for  preaching  in  Colchester  without  the  consent  of  Mr, 
Little,  the  minister  there ;  and  thus  made  dependent  on  the 
voluntary  contributions  of  his  congregation.  He  however 
outlived  all  the  trouble  of  those  excited  days,  and  died  in 
1784,  at  eighty-one  years  of  age. 

Mr,  Davenport  continued  his  extravagant  career  awhile 
after  the  episode  at  Hartford,  preaching  in  Boston  and  the 
vicinity,   where   he   again    encountered    the   law   and    was 


173^-1747  J  WHITEFIELDIAN  ERA.  305 

again  adjudged  to  be  of  unsettled  mind.  His  last  outbreak 
of  fanatic  extravagance  was  at  New  London,  where  on  March 
6,  1742,  he  headed  a  party  of  his  adherents  in  making  a  bon- 
fire of  dangerous  books  ;  shouting  "  Glory  to  God  "  round  the 
pile,  and  declaring  that  as  the  smoke  of  the  burning  books 
rose  up  to  Heaven,  so  the  smoke  of  the  torment  of  their 
authors'  souls  was  now  ascending  in  hell.  Among  the  books 
thus  burned  were  those  of  Flavel,  Beveridge,  Increase  Mather, 
Dr.  Sewall  and  Dr.  Colman  of  Boston,  and  Jonathan  Par- 
sons the  godly  and  revivalistic  minister  of  Lyme. 

Two  years  later  however,  under  the  influence  of  Rev. 
Messrs.  Wheelock  and  Williams  of  Lebanon,  Mr.  Davenport 
wrote  and  published  a  confession  and  retraction  of  his  errors 
and  extravagances.  But  he  had  done  mischief  he  could  not 
undo.  His  former  friends  mainly  pronounced  his  recantation 
an  apostacy,  and  however  sincere,  they  regarded  it  as  a 
fraud.  He  gave  occasion  to  many  Separatist  divisions  in 
the  churches  in  Connecticut,  and  was  the  foster-father  in 
them  of  many  extravagances  in  belief  and  practice,  to  the 
long  dishonor  of  religion.  His  last  days  were  spent  in  New 
Jersey,  in  comparative  quiet  and  orderliness  of  life.  The 
charitable  judgment  respecting  him  is  that  he  was  partially 
insane,  and  that  the  excitement  attendant  on  the  Whitefield- 
ian  campaign  was  too  much  for  his  reason. 

All  these  things  show  the  intensity  of  feeling  connected 
with  the  "Great  Awakening"  period,  and  the  sharp  division 
of  sentiment  which  separated  both  ministers  and  people,  as 
they  looked  on  one  or  another  aspect  of  the  time.  Those 
who  regarded  the  new  measures  of  the  itinerant  evangelists 
with  some  degree  of  distrust ;  who  believed  in  the  superior 
usefulness,  on  the  whole,  of  a  settled  ministry  laboring  in 
an  appointed  field,  and  in  sober  manifestations  of  religious 
39 


3o6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

zeal,  were  stigmatized  as  Old  Lights,  Arminians,  Formalists, 
and  as  inculcators  of  "mere  heath'en  morality."  They  were 
reproached  as  setting  themselves  against  God,  as  being 
opposed  to  the  revival,  as  careless  respecting  the  souls  of 
men.  Even  the  historian  Trumbull  does  not  fail,  again  and 
again,  to  make  these  implications  concerning  the  general 
body  of  the  ministers  of  that  day  who  did  not  endorse  all  the 
New  Light  measures.'" 

But  there  was  really  no  just  ground  for  such  charges. 
There  is  no  substantial  evidence  that  the  mass  of  the  clergy 
or  of  the  church-membership,  who  looked  somewhat  askance 
on  the  methods  and  views  which  sprang  up  in  connection 
with  the  "  Great  Awakening,"  were  either  unevangelical  in 
doctrine  or  un  solicitous  for  men's  salvation.  The  charge  of 
being  so  is  one  easy  to  make,  always  is  made,  in  every 
period  of  revival  when  any  one  dissents,  however  conscien- 
tiously, from  the  counsels  of  the  most  fervid  promoters  of 
any  of  its  methods.  Our  New  England  history  has  given 
opportunity  for  such  charges,  oftentimes.  They  have  been 
made  in  very  recent  days. 

The  middle  path  of  wisdom  is  hard  always  to  keep.  It 
is  probable  that  this  Hartford  Church,  and  the  ministry  of 
this  Association,  leaned  somewhat  strongly  to  the  conserva- 
tive side.'*     The  movement,  as  a  whole,  was  one  for  which 


^^It  seems  that  Rev.  Mr.  Whitman,  of  the  Second  Church,  was  thus  regarded 
by  some  of  the  more  enthusiastic  of  his  church-members ;  some  of  whom  with- 
drew from  his  ministrations  and  attended  public  worship  elsewhere.  See  the 
letter  addressed  to  Mr.  Whitman,  February  9,  1744,  in  reply  to  counsel  sought 
by  him,  by  Jonathan  Edwards.     Dwight's  Life  of  Edwards,  pp.  204-209. 

'^"^  A  slight  but  significant  token  of  the  feeling  here,  may  be  discerned  in  the 
fact  that  among  the  subscribers  to  Chauncy's  Seasonable  Thoughts  on  the  State 
of  Religion  in  New  England,  published  in  1743  (which  was  the  great  book  on 
what  the  New-Light  men  deemed  the  "Old-Light"  and  "anti-revival"  side) 
may  be  found  six  members  of  the  Hartford  Association  (Mr.  Whitman  of 
Farmington  subscribing  for  two  copies^;  and  nine  members  of  the  two  central 
Hartford  churches  (Mrs.  Abigail  Woodbridge  subscribing  for  three  copies). 


I732-I747-]  WHITEFIELDIAN  ERA.  307 

we  have  reason  to  bless  God  through  all  subsequent  history 
to  this  day.  Perhaps  a  larger  share  of  benefit  might  have 
accrued  to  this  community  and  to  the  surrounding  towns, 
had  these  ministers  and  churches  thrown  themselves  more 
into  the  line  with  Wheelock  and  Pomeroy  and  Bellamy,  and 
even  tolerated  somewhat  more  generously  a  Davenport.  It 
may  be  so,  and  it  may  not.  Certainly  this  community  was 
comparatively  spared  some  of  those  ecclesiastical  scandals 
which  lacerated  and  dishonored  religion  in  some  parts  of  the 
Colony,  where  freer  run  was  given  to  the  new  measures  of  the 
new  men. 

In  1745,  Mr.  Whitefield  was  a  second  time  in  New  Eng- 
land, It  was  reported  that  he  would  make  a  second  progress 
through  Connecticut.  The  General  Association,  meeting  at 
Newington,  on  the  i8th  day  of  June — Benjamin  Colton  of 
West  Hartford,  Moderator,  and  Elnathan  Whitman  of  the 
Second  Church,  Scribe — voted  as  follows : 

"Wheras  there  has  of  late  years  been  many  Errors  in 
Doctrine  and  Disorders  in  Practice,  prevailing  in  the  Churches 
of  this  Land,  which  seem  to  have  a  threatening  aspect  upon 
these  Churches,  and  whereas  Mr.  George  Whitefield  has 
been  the  Promoter  or  at  least  the  Faulty  Occasion  of  many 
of  these  Errors  and  Disorders,  this  Association  think  it 
needful  for  them  to  declare  that  if  the  said  Mr.  Whitefield 
should  make  his  Progress  through  this  Government,  it  would 
by  no  means  be  advisable  for  any  of  our  ministers  to  admit 
him  into  their  Pulpits  or  for  any  of  our  People  to  attend 
upon  his  Preaching  and  Administrations." 

Dr.  L.  Bacon  says  "every  word"  of  this  resolution  is 
"literally  true."  Yet,  he  pronounces  the  adoption  of  it  "an 
error  as  grave,  and  likely  to  be  as  mischievous,"  as  any  error 
of  Whitefield's.'"     Possibly.     But  the  ministers  who  passed  it 


^Norwich  Discourse,  Conn.  Hist,  Cont.,  p.  54. 


3o8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

were  in  fresh  view  of  the  disorders  which  were  visible  all 
over  Connecticut,  and  had  not  the  experience  of  another 
hundred  years  of  the  habitude  of  toleration,  which  is  so  easy 
to  us. 

The  views  of  the  local  Hartford  Association  were  as  defi- 
nite, and  were  earlier  expressed.  At  a  full  meeting  of  the 
body  at  Windsor,  February  5th,  1745,  a  testimony  was 
drawn  up,  signed,  and  subsequently  printed,^''  declaring  that 

"As  the  Errors,  Disorders  and  Confusions,  which  for  some 
years  past,  have  so  generally  prevailed  through  the  Churches 
of  this  Land,  had  their  Rise  (as  we  apprehend)  from  the 
Preaching  and  Management  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  George  White- 
field  in  his  former  visit  to  Neiv  England,  ....  we  the 
associated  Ministers  in  the  Northern  Part  of  the  County  of 
Hartford,  think  it  needful  to  bear  a  publick  Testimony 
against  him  and  his  conduct  ....  hereby  declaring  that 
under  the  present  Circumstances  of  Things  we  shall  by  no 
Means  admit  him  into  any  of  our  Pulpits,  and  in  Faithful- 
ness to  the  People  under  our  respective  Charges  we  would 
solemnly  warn  and  caution  them  to  take  Heed  and  beware 
of  Him." 

In  pursuance  of  these  convictions  the  Association,  at  a 
meeting  in  June  1746,  appointed  a  committee — of  which 
Mr.  Whitman  of  Farmington,  and  Messrs.  Whitman  and 
Wadsworth  of  Hartford,  were  members — to  examine  Mr. 
David  S.  Rowland,  candidate  for  the  ministry  in  the  north- 
west society  in  Symsbury,  nowGranby;  and  instructed  their 
committee  "to  see  to  it"  that  Mr.  Rowland  "approve  and 
submit  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  established  in  the 
Churches  of  Connecticut,"  as,  also,  that  the  "said  Rowland 
will  not  countenance  and  encourage  Mr.  Whitefield  by  invit- 
ing him  to  preach  or  attending  his  administrations,  or  any 


^  See  Appendix  IX  for  the  document,  which  is  a  rare  one,  and  for  the  signa- 
tures. 


I732-I747-]  WADSWORTH'S   DEATH.  309 

Other  Itinerant  Preachers,  or  any  other  of  the  errors,  separa- 
tions or  disorders  prevailing  in  ye  County."" 

But  right  or  wrong,  as  any  one  may  choose  to  think  the 
Association,  the  Church,  and  Mr.  Wadsworth  were  on  the 
chief  ecclesiastical  question  of  the  day,  his  own  share  in 
influencing  the  determination  of  any  such  questions  was 
about  over. 

The  last  entry  by  him  of  any  ministerial  act  in  the  Church 
record  was  the  baptism  of  a  child,  December  7,  1746.  A 
Society  meeting  on  the  26th  of  January  following,  took  action 
for  securing  a  minister  "  during  Mr.  Wadsworth's  absence, 
provided  he  go  to  Sea  for  his  health."  On  the  2d  of  March, 
and  the  4th  of  August,  votes  indicative  of  the  Pastor's  "  in- 
disposition "  are  recorded  ;  and  on  the  second  of  those  occa- 
sions a  committee  was  instructed  "to  apply  themselves  to  Mr, 
Edward  Dorr  to  Continue  to  Administer  to  this  Society  during 
Mr.  Wadsworth's  Incapacity,  and  as  need  shall  Require." 


3"  At  a  meeting  on  the  ist  of  October  previous,  the  Association,  in  respect  to 
the  same  Mr.  Rowland,  voted  "  they  do  not  advise  his  settlement  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry "  at  Symsbury.  It  is  obvious  from  the  vote  in  June  that  the 
hesitation  was  on  account  of  Mr.  Rowland's  conjectured  or  known  views  on 
the  live  question  of  the  day. 

Mr.  Rowland  was  apparently  settled  in  accordance  with  this  vote,  but  the 
Society  at  Simsbury,  the  following  January  (1747)  voted: 

"  I.  Y*  we  chuse  y'  ye  church  in  this  Society  shall  be  a  settled  Congrega 
tional  Church 

"3.  Y"^  as  we  know  of  no  human  composition  y'  comes  nearer  to  ye  Script- 
ures than  the  Cambridg  platform,  so  we  chuse  y'  ye  church  in  this  society  shall 
take  it  in  ye  substance  of  it  under  ye  Scriptures  for  their  rule  of  church  govern- 
ment and  discipline 

"  5.  Voted  y'  we  naurtheless  are  not  straitened  in  our  charity  toward  our 
neighboring  churches  y*  are  settled  under  Saybrook  platform,  or  those  called 
Presbyterians." 

With  a  minister  committed  to  the  Saybrook  system,  and  a  society  voting 
thus,  a  few  weeks  after  his  settlement,  that  the  "Cambridg  platform"  was  the 
highest  human  composition,  it  is  not  strange  that  Mr.  Rowland,  settled  with  so 
much  trouble,  should  be  unsettled  with  no  trouble  whatever.  The  event  took 
place  in  August  1747.  He  was  subsequently  "settled"  in  Plainfield,  March 
174S,  and  unsettled,  April  1761.  After  preaching  awhile  at  Providence,  R.  L, 
he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Windsor,  March  27,  1776,  where 
he  died,  honored  and  loved,  January  13,  1794. 


3IO  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.       [1732-1747. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  died  November  12, 1747,  lacking  two  days 
of  forty-three  years  of  age,  having  filled  a  pastoral  term  of 
fifteen  years  and  two  months.  He  left  a  widow  and  six 
children,'"  He  seems  to  have  been  a  man  beloved  and  re- 
spected, though  there  is  no  indication  that  he  was  a  man  of 
remarkable  gifts  or  attainments.  He  was  one  of  the  Trustees 
of  Yale  College  from  1743  to  his  death,  having  apparently 
been  elected  in  the  place  of  Rev.  Samuel  Woodbridge.  The 
numbers  admitted  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Church — seventy- 
five  to  the  covenant  and  one  hundred  and  three  to  full  com- 
munion— do  not  appear  large  for  the  Great  Awakening  period ; 
but  the  proportion  of  one  class  to  the  other  indicates  a  health- 
ful condition  of  the  Church,  and  implies  a  right  view  of 
things  in  its  Pastor.  The  period,  too,  had  its  local  draw- 
backs, and  some  of  them  were  felt  in  Hartford  in  full  measure. 

Mr.  Wadsworth,  Hke  some  of  his  predecessors  in  the  pas- 
torate, was  a  man  of  considerable  property.  He  had  patri- 
monial lands  in  Farmington  and  a  homestead  here.  His 
estate  was  appraised  at  upwards  of  ;^2,ooo.  His  library  '" 
gives  no  indication  of  special  proclivities  on  his  part  to  any 
particular  subject  of  enquiry.  It  compares  quite  favorably 
with  the  libraries  of  ministers  generally,  situated  as  he  was. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  sleeps  beside  those  who  occupied  his  office 
before  him,  in  the. old  Hartford  burying-ground. 


^  His  wife,  as  has  been  said,  page  277,  was  Abigail,  daughter  of  Gov.  Joseph 
Talcott.  They  were  married  February  28,  1734.  Their  children  were,  Abigail, 
b.  January  28,  1735;  Eunice,  b.  August  31,  1736,  d.  July  23,  1825;  Elizabeth, 
b.  July  19,  1738,  d.  November  15,  1810;  Daniel,  b.  January  21,  1741,  d.  Novem- 
ber 3,  1750;  Jeremiah,  b.  July  12,  1743,  d.  April  30,  1804;  Ruth,  born  1746,  d. 
December  27,  1750. 

Jeremiah  married  Mehitable  Russell,  and  became  the  father  of  Daniel,  the 
founder  of  the  Athenaeum,  and  of  Catherine  and  Hannah.  With  this  Daniel, 
who  died  in  1S48  without  children,  the  name  of  Wadsworth,  in  the  direct 
male  line  from  Rev.  Daniel,  became  extinct. 

33  See  Appendix  X.  The  exaggerated  valuation  put  on  the  books  shows  the 
depreciated  state  of  the  currency,  and  suggests  that  the  estate  of  Mr.  Wads- 
worth may  not  have  been  as  large  as  the  figures  suggest. 


CHAPTER      XII 


EDWARD  DORR  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

As  Mr.  Wadsworth  had  been  called  in  to  supply  the  need 
occasioned  by  Mr.  Woodbridge's  disability,  and  had  succeeded 
to  the  pastorate,  so  Mr.  Edward  Dorr,  preaching  awhile  in 
Mr.  Wadsworth's  illness,  followed  also  in  his  office. 

Rev.  Edward  Dorr  was  born  at  Lyme,  November  2,  1722. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  Edmund  Dorr,  clothier,  of  Lyme, 
and  grandson  of  Edward  Dorr,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this 
country,  who  came  to  Roxbury,  Mass.,  about  1670.  His 
mother  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Matthew  Griswold  of  Lyme. 

From  the  age  of  eight  years  to  his  entrance  at  Yale  College, 
probably  at  sixteen,  his  religious  impressions,  outside  of  those 
of  home  life,  must  have  been  derived  from  the  ministrations 
of  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons, '  who  was  settled  in  Lyme  in  1730, 
and  who  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  and  useful  of  Connect- 
icut ministers  in  the  era  of  the  Great  Awakening.     To  whom 


'Jonathan  Parsons  was  born  at  West  Springfield,  Mass.,  November  30, 
1705;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1729,  and  ordained  in  Lyme  in  1730,  where 
he  remained  till  1745.  He  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  promoters  of  the  revi- 
val of  1740-  His  account  of  the  revival  in  Lyme,  dated  April  1744,  is  one  of 
the  most  interesting  papers  belonging  to  the  period.  His  sermon,  A  Needful 
Caution  in  a  Critical  Day,  of  the  same  year  was  an  exceedingly  useful  production 
in  restraining  the  excesses  of  the  time.  The  last  thirty  years  of  Mr.  Parsons' 
life  were  spent  at  Nevyburyport,  where  he  was  pastor  of  what  is  now  called  the 
Old  South  Church,  and  where,  in  a  vault  beneath  the  pulpit,  his  remains  lie 
beside  those  of  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  who  died  at  Mr.  Parsons'  house,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1770.  Mr.  Parsons  married  while  in  Lyme,  Phebe  Griswold,  a 
cousin  of  Rev.  Edward  Dorr.  He  was  one  of  the  ablest  and  best  men  of  his 
period. 


312  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

especially  he  was  indebted  for  the  impulse  which  prompted 
his  union  with  the  church  in  Lyme,  June  7,  1741,  cannot 
perhaps  be  told.  He  was  at  that  time  a  member  of  Yale 
College,  and  may  have  been  converted  in  the  college  revi- 
val, or  previously  under  Mr.  Parsons'  ministry  at  home.  His 
name  stands  the  eleventh  on  the  list  of  the  fifteen  graduates 
of  the  class  of  1742;  the  order  of  which  list  was  at  that  day 
determined,  not  by  scholarship  or  by  the  alphabet,  but  by  the 
supposed  social  standing  of  the  graduate  or  of  his  family. 

Mr.  Dorr  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  New  Haven  Asso- 
ciation, May  29,  1744.  On  the  13th  day  of  the  following 
September  he  received  a  divided  call,  by  a  vote  of  seventy- 
seven  to  forty-three,  to  the  church  in  Kensington  ;  a  call  con- 
ditioned furthermore  by  the  proviso  that  "  Rev.  W"  Burnham  ^ 
will  oblige  himself  to  relinquish  his  salary  at  or  before  y*-'  set- 
tlement of  said  person,"  the  "  much  esteemed  Edward  Dorr." 

Into  the  church  and  parish  quarrel  at  Kensington  it  is 
not  needful  here  to  go.^  It  will  suffice  for  the  present  chron- 
icle to  say  that  a  Council  of  ministers  called  by  the  church  to 
consider  the  complicated  situation,  advised  on  January  2, 
1745,  that  Mr.  Dorr  continue  to  preach  till  the  following 
June,  "  by  which  time  God  in  his  providence  may  more  open 
and  clear  the  way  of  his  and  your  duty."  On  the  5th  of 
June  the  Association  advised  his  settlement.  On  the  loth 
of  October  the  Society  voted  him  ;^7oo  "old  tenor"  as  a 
settlement,  and  £,$0  annually  as  salary  for  six  years,  and 
iQ6o  a  year  afterwards.  These  propositions  were  accepted 
by  Mr.  Dorr,  in  a  letter  dated  at   Lyme,  October  30,  1745. 


^  Rev.  Wm.  Burnham  settled  at  Kensington  1712  ;  died  September,  1750; 
was  the  second  husband  of  Ann  Foster,  daughter  of  Rev.  Isaac  Foster  of  the 
First  Church  of  Hartford,  who  was  married  to  him  after  the  death  of  her  first 
husband,  Rev.  Thomas  Buckingham.     See  ante,  p.  219. 

^The  matter  may  be  traced  somewhat  more  at  large  in  Andrews'  N'ezu  Brit- 
ain, pp.  47-49. 


174S-1772.]  DORR   AND    HIS   TIMES. 


313 


Nevertheless  the  matter  hung,  Mr.  Burnham's  health  im- 
proved. The  chronic  clamor  for  a  division  of  the  parish 
increased.  On  the  20th  of  August  1746,  the  Society  voted 
a  reconsideration  of  its  proposals  to  Mr.  Dorr.  A  Council 
called  in  to  advise,  recommended  a  support  of  Mr.  Burnham. 

The  following  August,  1747,  found  Mr.  Dorr  preaching  in 
Mr.  Wadsworth's  pulpit  in  Hartford,  and  the  Society  voting 
to  apply  to  him  to  "continue  "  to  do  so  ;  the  language,  taken 
in  connection  with  former  votes  providing  for  a  supply  in 
the  Pastor's  disability,  intimating  that  he  may  have  been 
preaching  in  Hartford  some  time. 

Mr.  Wadsworth's  death,  on  the  12th  of  November  follow- 
ing, opened  the'way  for  proposals  for  Mr.  Dorr's  settlement. 
"  Mr.  Daniel  Edwards,  Mr.  Joseph  Talcott,  and  Mr.  George 
Wyllys,"  were  therefore  appointed  on  the  loth  of  December, 
to  apply  for  the  advice  of  the  Association  respecting  the 
settlement  of  Mr.  Dorr,  and  to  that  gentleman  himself,  on 
the  same  subject.  The  Association  and  the  candidate  both 
having  apparently  given  favorable  responses,  the  Society  on 
the  "third  Thursday  of  January"  1748,  proceeded  formally 
to  invite  Mr.  Dorr  to  the  pastorate. 

The  monetary  negotiations  in  connection  with  this  settle- 
ment of  Mr.  Dorr  may  be  a  little  more  fully  detailed  than 
their  intrinsic  importance  demands,  as  affording  an  illustra- 
tion of  the  tangled  condition  of  all  commercial  transactions 
conducted  at  that  time. 

The  Society  voted,  in  calling  Mr.  Dorr,  to  give  him  as  "  a 
Settlement  2000  Pounds  old  Tennor  in  equal  Proportion 
yearly  within  Two  years,"  and  also  give  him  annually  "  such 
a  sum  in  Bills  of  Credit  or  Current  money  as  shall  (as  the 
same  becomes  dew)  be  equal  in  Value  to  the  sum  of  Eighty 
40 


314  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

Pounds  in  silver  money,  accounting  silver  at  the  Rate  of 
Eight  shilling's  pr.  Ounce." 

On  the  first  Thursday  of  February  following,  these  propo- 
sitions were,  on  report  of  the  committee,  changed  to  the 
following :  an  annual  salary  of  "  seventy  Pounds  in  Silver 
moneyat  Eight  shillings  pr.  Ounce;"  the  "whole  Occupancy, 
use  and  Profits  of  the  several  parcels  of  Land  and  Meadow 
to  this  Society  or  Church  belonging ; "  ^  a  "  Sufficiency  of 
Firewood  for  the  Use  and  Comfort  of  his  Family  ;  "  and  for 
his  "  Settlement  among  us  the  full  sum  of  Three  Hundred 
Pounds  in  Bills  of  Credit  in  this  Colony  of  the  New  Tenor, 
within  one  year  after  his  Ordination,  and  also  one  Hundred 
and  Fourty  Pounds  in  Silver  money  or  bills  thereto  Equiva- 
lent within  two  years." 

At  a  meeting  on  the  i6th  day  of  February,  Mr.  Dorr  by 
letter  dissented  from  these  proposals,  and  a  large  committee 
was  appointed  to  confer  with  him.  Two  meetings  were  after- 
ward held ;  the  final  outcome  of  which  was  an  agreement  to 
give  Mr.  Dorr  an  annual  salary  of  seventy-five  pounds  in 
silver  at  eight  shillings  an  ounce ;  the  use  of  the  Society 
lands  ;  his  firewood,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  in 
bills  of  new  tenor,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds  in 
silver,  or  bills  equivalent,  as  a  settlement." 


*  The  Society  owned  lands  in  the  North  and  South  Meadows,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  town,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  River.  The  Holloway  house  and 
lot  (see  a7ite,  p.  221)  was  also  still  in  possession. 

5  It  is  disappointing  that  after  all  this  elaborateness  of  arrangement,  there 
should  be  room  for  such  misunderstanding  as  to  the  equivalency  of  one  or  other 
currency  that  such  votes  as  the  following  several  times  appear  on  the  Society 
record,  viz.,  Jan.  16,  1756,  "Voted  and  agreed  that  Messrs.  Geo.  Wyilys  Esq"", 
Danl.  Edwards  Esq"",  John  Cook,  Thomas  Hopkins,  John  Sheppard,  Joseph 
Wadsworth  jr.,  &  Hezekiah  Marsh,  be  a  committee  with  full  power  to  Treat 
and  agree  with  the  Revd.  Mr.  Edward  Dorr  touching  said  equivalent,  and  fire- 
wood for  this  year :  and  that  said  sum  or  sums  as  they  the  s*^  committee  or  the 
major  part  of  them,  either  together  or  without  the  s"*  Mr.  Dorr,  shall  be  agreed 


1748-1772.I  DORR   AND    HIS   TIMES.  315 

The  salary  question  thus  hopefully  but  delusively  disposed 
of,  and  provision  made  for  the  "  proper  &  Decent  Entertain- 
ment of  the  Ministers  &c  that  may  be  attending  on  that 
Business,"  the  ordination  took  place. 

Mr.  Dorr  recorded  the  procedure  with  his  own  hand,  as 
Mr.  Wadsworth  had  done  before  him.  "April  the  27"'  1748. 
Edward  Dorr  vjras  ordain'^  Pastor  of  the  first  Ch''  of  Christ  in 
Hartford.  The  Rev'  Mr.  Bissel  began  with  prayer.  Y  Revd. 
Mr.  Whitman  preach''  a  sermon  from  2  Cor.  4-5,  the  Rev'' 
Mr.  Colton  made  the  first  prayer.  Mr.  Whitman  of  Farm- 
ington  gave  the  Charge.  Mr.  Steel  made  the  second  prayer, 
and  Mr.  Whitman  of  Hartford  gaue  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship. Give  me  grace  O  God  to  be  a  faithfull  &  make 
me  a  successfull  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ — 
E.  Dorr."  ' 

Following  closely  the  steps  of  his  predecessor  in  the  way 
of  introduction  to  the  Hartford  pastorate,  Mr.  Dorr  followed 
his  example,  also,  in  marrying  into  the  influential  Talcott 
family.  He  took  for  his  wife  Helena,  younger  sister  of 
Mrs.  Wadsworth,  and  youngest  daughter  of  the  then  lately 


on  as  an  equivalent  to  said  sum  of  ^^75,  and  also  sufficient  to  provide  or  satisfy 
for  s"^  firewood,  shall  be  duly  paid  to  Mr.  Dorr." 

The  non-equivalency  of  silver  and  of  bills  continued  all  through  Mr.  Dorr's 
pastorate  and  the  New  Tenor,  as  they  had  under  Mr.  Wadsworth  and  the  Old 
Tenor.  In  the  last  eight  years  of  Mr.  Dorr's  ministry,  from  1764  to  1772,  about 
ninety  pounds  in  currency  seems  to  have  been  regarded  as  the  equivalent  of  the 
;^75  stipulated. 

In  May  1768,  a  vote  was  passed  that  individuals  furnishing  Mr.  Doit  his  fire- 
wood, on  their  rate  account,  should  have  it  credited  to  them  at  seven  shillings  a 
cord  for  Oak  wood,  and  nine  shillings  for  Walnut. 

^  The  minutes  of  the  Hartford  North  Association  contain,  on  a  fly-leaf,  the 
record  of  the  Council.  There  were  present  Rev.  Messrs.  Whitman  of  Farm- 
ington,  Colton  of  Hartford  (West),  Steel  of  Tolland,  Whitman  of  Hartford, 
Bissell  of  Wintonbury,  and  Williams  of  East  Hartford.  Also  the  following 
Messengers  :  Deacon  John  Hart,  Dea.  William  Gaylord,  Dr.  Cobb,  Dea.  Isaac 
Sheldon,  Col.  Joseph  Pitkin,  Mr.  Matthew  Rockwell.  Rev.  Samuel  Whitman 
of  Farmington,  now  seventy-two  years  old,  was  Moderator,  and  his  son  Elna- 
than,  of  the  Second  Church,  was  Scribe. 


3i6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

deceased  Governor  Joseph  Talcott ;  a  lady  born  March  13, 
1720,  being  thus  two  and  a  half  years  his  senior.  Whether 
the  marriage  occurred  before  his  settlement,  there  seems  no 
means  of  determining.  The  very  particular  stress  about 
"Firewood  for  the  Use  and  Comfort  of  his  Family,"  suggests, 
perhaps,  that  the  ev^nt  had  already  taken  place  or  was 
known  to  be  impending. 

The  new  Pastor  was,  at  his  settlement,  a  little  more  than 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  The  era  upon  which  he  entered 
upon  his  work  was  one  of  general  religious  declension,  which 
lasted,  with  only  slight  and  local  interruptions,  beyond  the 
period  of  his  pastorate.  In  fact,  if  the  period  from  1735  to 
1745  may  be  called  the  era  of  the  "  Great  Awakening"  in  New 
England,  the  period  from  1748  to  1795  may  be  called  the  era 
of  the  Great  Decline. 

The  controversies  of  the  preceding  years,  growing  to  some 
extent  out  of  the  Whitefieldian  movement ;  the  separations 
which  took  place  from  many  Connecticut  churches,  and  the 
ecclesiastical  difficulties  and  scandals  arising  from  those 
separations  ;  the  restiveness  of  many  under  the  Saybrook 
platform,  and  the  determination  of  others  for  the  strenuous 
administration  of  the  discipline  established  by  that  platform; 
the  distracting  influence  of  the  French  war,  and  the  absence, 
however  accounted  for,  of  those  divine  spiritual  influences 
which  seem  at  times  to  triumph  over  all  obstacles — all  com- 
bined to  make  this  period  of  the  Colony's  religious  history 
one  of  general  monotony  and  discouragement. 

In  the  midst  of  this  comparatively  depressed  state  of 
affairs  there  is  every  indication  that  Mr.  Dorr  exercised  a 
laborious  and  faithful  ministry.  The  accessions  to  the 
Church  were  few,  but  somewhat  regular  and  continuous. 
Two  hundred  and  seven  persons  owned  the  covenant,  and 


1748-1772.]  DORR   AND   HIS   TIMES.  317 

fifty-five  were  admitted  to  full  communion,  during  the 
twenty-four  years  and  five  months  of  his  pastorate.  The 
comparison  of  these  numbers  with  the  seventy-five  who 
owned  the  covenant  and  the  one  hundred  and  three  who 
were  admitted  to  full  communion,  in  the  fifteen  years  of 
Mr.  Wadsworth's  pastorate  is  significant.  Especially  signifi- 
cant is  the  striking  alteration  of  proportion  between  those 
covenanting  and  those  communing.  It  is  plain  that  a  larger 
and  larger  number  of  people  were  contenting  themselves 
with  such  a  merely  formal  assent  to  t]|e  gospel  as  carried 
with  it  the  privilege  of  a  qualified  church-membership,  but 
impHed  no  spiritual  change.  The  state  of  affairs  was  more 
and  more  approximating  the  condition  of  a  State  religion,  to 
escape  from  which  was  one  of  the  main  reasons  for  the 
fathers'  flight  to  the  American  wilderness.  The  "parish- 
way,"  which  John  Davenport  had  deplored  the  beginnings  of 
in  this  Colony,  had  prevailed,  and  the  church  was  suffering 
from  the  consequences. 

Against  this  condition  of  affairs  the  ministers  of  Connec- 
ticut made  earnest,  if  only  partially  successful,  struggle.  ' 
The  records  of  the  General  and  local  Associations  show  that 
the  sorrowful  condition  of  things  was  distinctly  discerned,  and 
that  sincere  efforts,  if  not  always  the  wisest  ones,  were  made 
for  its  remedy. 

In  1748.  the  year  of  Mr.  Dorr's  ordination,  the  General 
Association  found  it  necessary  to  bewail  "the  great  preva- 
lence of  vice  &  prophaneness  and  a  Lamentable  Indifference 
in  spiritual  concerns;"  and  called  upon  the  ministers  "to 
take  frequent  Opportunities  to  Discourse  in  private  with  par- 
ticular persons  upon  Religious  things."  In  1755  the  General 
Association  exhorted  the  ministers  "to  insist  upon  those 
Doctrines  in  our  Confession  of  Faith  which  are  contrary  to 


3i8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

the  prevailing  Errors  of  the  Day  ;  and  particularly  that  they 
bear  a  seasonable  Testimony  against  Socinianism,  Arianisni, 
Anninianism  and  Pelagianism."  In  1756,  the  Association, 
"In  consideration  of  the  threatening  Aspect  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence at  this  day,  particularly  in  the  frequent  and  amazing 
Earthquakes'  and  their  terrible  Effect  in  various  parts  of  the 
Earth,  and  especially  the  strange,  unusual  and  distressing 
War^  in  this  Land,  as  also  in  consideration  of  the  awful 
Growth  and  Spread  of  Vice  and  Immorality,"  recommended 
that  "every  last  Thursday  in  every  Month  for  several  Months 
coming,"  be  observed  as  days  of  humiliation  and  prayer.  The 
same  Association  took  measures  for  a  new  edition  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Platform  adopted  at  Saybrook  in 
1708,  copies  of  which  "had  become  scarce  in  the  churches  ;" 
which  new  edition  was  printed  in  1760. 

But  war  times  are  always  times  of  religious  decline.  And 
Connecticut  was  at  this  time  bearing  her  full  share  of  the 
burden  and  the  anxiety  of  the  French  and  English  contest. 
As  early  as  1755,  a  year  before  the  war  had  been  formally 
declared,  Connecticut  had  in  actual  service  between  two  and 
three  thousand  men.  In  1757,  after  the  attack  on  Fort  Wil- 
liam Henry,  the  Colony  had  about  six  thousand  of  her  men 
under  arms.     The  quota  generally  demanded  of  Connecticut 


■^  On  the  i8th  of  November,  1755,  there  was  the  most  powerful  earthquake 
ever  known  in  this  country.  It  occurred  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  and 
continued  nearly  four  and  a  half  minutes.  At  Boston  100  chimneys  were  shaken 
down  level  with  the  roof,  and  1,500  others  in  part.  The  course  of  the  earth- 
quake was  from  northwest  to  southeast  and  was  traced  upward  of  a  thousand 
miles.  It  was  felt,  across  the  apparent  breadth  of  its  line  of  undulation,  from 
Halifax  to  Chesapeake  Bay.  Bostoti  Gazette,  No.  34;  Memoirs  American  Acad- 
emy, i,  271-276.  This  was  the  same  month  as  the  great  Lisbon  earthquake, 
which  occurred  November  ist. 

*  War  had  been  in  progress  nearly  two  years,  but  was  not  formally  declared 
till  May  17, 1756,  which  was  perhaps  the  "strange  and  unusual"  thing  the  Asso- 
ciation speaks  of. 


1748-1772.]  DORR   AND   HIS   TIMES.  3IQ 

afterward,  during  the  war  till  1 762,  was  five  thousand.  Of 
course  this  was  an  immense  public  expense,  and  a  vast  pri- 
vate anxiety.  The  cost  of  the  war  to  this  small  province  only, 
was  over  ;!^400,ooo.  Business  was  interrupted,  industry 
crippled,  life  sacrificed,  marriages  retarded  or  prevented. 
Every  social  and  religious  interest  necessarily  suffered  injury 
and  loss. 

Amid  the  general  state  of  public  anxiety  and  religious  de- 
pression, a  few  notes  of  interest  in  local  Church  afTairs  may 
be  gathered  up. 

On  December  29,  1748,  soon  after  Mr.  Dorr's  settlement, 
Mr.  Joseph  Talcott,  son  of  the  deceased  Governor  by  his  first 
wife,  and  consequently  half-brother  to  Mrs.  Dorr,  was  chosen 
one  of  the  Deacons  of  the  Church  ;  which  office  he  probably 
filled  till  his  death  in  1799,  at  the  age  of  98  ;  a  period  of  fifty 
years. 

January  i,  1756,  Mr.  Ozias  Goodwin,  grandson  of  Ozias 
the  first  settler,  was  chosen  Deacon.  He  exercised  the  office 
twenty  years,  dying  in  January  1776,  aged  87  years. 

January  18,  1769,  Capt.  Daniel  Goodwin,  great  grandson  of 
Ozias  first,  was  chosen  Deacon.  He  filled  the  office  only 
three  years,  dying  January  6,  1772. 

In  1755  it  was  thought  necessary  to  enlarge  the  meeting- 
house to  "accomodate  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Society,"  and 
a  committee  was  appointed  for  the  purpose,  but  the  matter 
seemed  to  go  no  further.  Probably  the  need  was  not  great. 
The  whole  number  of  inhabitants  at'  this  time  in  Hartford, 
including  East  and  West  Hartford,  was  less  than  thirty-five 
hundred ;  and  some  quite  appreciable  portion  of  these  must 
for  the  next  seven  or  eight  years  have  been  absent  in  the 
war.     And  there  were  four  meeting-houses. 

In  1756  the  society  voted  that  their  "Committee  Inform 


320  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

-Mr.  Dorr  that  this  Society  are  desirous  that  Dr.  Watts'  Psalms 
may  be  sung  in  the  Congregation  at  the  time  of  Divine.Wor- 
ship  at  least  half  y^  time."'  In  1760  a  rate  of  ^12  was  lev- 
ied to  procure  "a  convenient  number  of  Curtains  and  a  Cush- 
ing "  for  the  meeting-house ;  a  vote  which  was  followed  by 
one  in  1769,  to  procure  "Shutters  for  the  West  side"  of  the 
edifice. 

A  good  deal  of  trouble  all  along  these  days  seems  to  have 
attended  the  always  vexatious  business  of  "seating"  the 
people.  The  resolutions  are  of  unusual  explicitness  and  for- 
mality. The  year  1760  the  Society  took  a  different  course, 
passing  the  following  vote  : 

"Voted  and  agreed  that  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Society 
for  the  future  and  until  the  Society  order  otherwise,  have 
Liberty  to  accomodate  themselves  with  Seats  in  the  Meeting 
house  at  their  Discrestion,  any  measures  this  Society  hath 
heretofore  taken  for  Seating  s''  House  notwithstanding." 

This  democratic  plan  did  not,  however,  seem  to  give  satis- 
faction;  for  in  April  1764,  a  committee  was  raised  "to  new 
seat  the  Meeting  House  in  the  Common  and  usual  way  and 
manner." 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  June  14,  1767,  just  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  public  worship,  the  steeple  of  the  meeting-house  was 


^  The  introduction  of  Dr.  Watts'  Psalms  was  attended  in  many  churches, 
with  not  a  little  opposition.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Hartford  North  Association, 
on  October  5,  1742,  the  following  vote  was  passed  : — "This  Association  having 
heard  y*  some  difficultys  have  arisen  in  Goshen  by  Reason  of  y®  singing  of 
Docf  Watts  psalms  in  publick  worship,  wee  advise  that  for  y®  present  they  use 
only  our  common  Version  of  y«  psalms  of  David  in  public  worship."  The 
first  London  edition  of  Watts'  Psalms  was  published  in  17 19.  The  first 
Boston  edition  (being  the  thirteenth  up  to  that  time)  was  printed  in  1741. 
Whether  the  Goshen  people  had  got  hold  of  this  Boston  imprint  or  had  been 
using  some  one  of  the  London  editions  cannot,  perhaps,  be  proved.  It  rather 
strongly  illustrates  the  conservatism  of  the  Hartford  Church,  however,  that 
fourteen  years  after  the  Goshen  congregation  had  been  making  use  of  Watts' 
version,  this  Society  should  have  only  got  so  far  along  as  to  petition  the  minister 
to  try  it  "at  least  half  y*  time." 


1748-1772]  DORR   AND   HIS   TIMES.  321 

Struck  by  lightning,  and  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Larcum, 
was  killed,  and  others  were  injured  by  the  shock  and  by  the 
rush  to  get  out  of  the  house  in  the  panic  which  ensued.  A 
rate  was  shortly  after  ordered,  of  ;^I30,  for  the  repair  of  the 
damage  done  to  the  steeple  and  "  to  procure  an  Electrical 
Rod  or  rods  as  is  thought  necessarry."  This  rod  is  said  '"  to 
have  been  "among  the  first  and  possibly  the  very  first  one 
in  Hartford."  A  town  clock,  it  is  also  stated — some  remains 
of  which  still  exist  in  the  loft  of  the  present  church-edifice 
— was  procured  and  placed  in  the  repaired  steeple  about  this 
time." 

For  some  reason  or  other  the  Society  saw  fit,  in  Mr.  Dorr's 
time  and  shortly  after,  to  alienate  certain  lands  which  had 
been  in  possession  many  years,  and  to  which  reference  has 
been  made  in  Isaac  Foster's  period.'^  Thus,  three  acres  on 
the  "West  side  of  the  town  "  were  leased  June  19,  1759,  for 
999  years  to  Caleb  Turner  for  ^^15,  and  one  silver  penny 
annually  ;  one  acre  in  the  South  Meadow  to  Joseph  Church 
for  999  years,  on  May  6,  1769,  for  other  land  and  one  barley- 
corn rent ;  three  acres  and  forty  rods  "East  side  the  River," 
September  19,  1769.  for  999  years  to  David  Case,  for  ;^3  55-, 
and  one  barley-corn  rent ;  fourteen  acres  in  the  North  Meadow, 
May  2,  1774,  to  William  Wadsworth  for  900  years,  for  ;^270, 
and  one  wheat-corn  rent ;  and  the  Holloway  property  (deeded 
"to  be  held  as  a  Parsonage  land  forever")  to  Jonathan  Wads- 
worth,  for  ^^141  i$s,  and  one  wheat-corn  annually  for  900 
years. 

But  probably  the  most  interesting  local  religious  matter, 
outside   the   routine   of  Church    and   parish    affairs,   which 


"^  C.  J.  Hoadly,  Coicrant,  Jan.  25,  1869. 
"  Ibid. 

'-  See  ante,  p.  221. 
41 


322  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1748-1772. 

occupied  the  notice  of  Mr.  Dorr  and  his  good  people,  was 
the  attempt  made  to  plant  an  Episcopal  church  here.  This 
endeavor  began  with  the  preaching  in  Hartford  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Davies  early  in  1762.  On  the  6th  of  October  of 
that  year,  ground  was  purchased  for  a  building  a  little  to  the 
north  of  the  present  Christ  Church  edifice — Church  Street  not 
being  then  opened.  Land  was  bought  and  foundations  were 
partly  laid.  But  the  enterprise  suffered  from  the  general 
hardship  of  the  times  and  languished  incomplete.  In  1768 
the  land  and  the  foundations  were  sold  by  Dr.  Wm.  Jepson 
— who  thought  himself  some  way  authorized  to  do  so — to 
Robert  Sanford,  who  in  turn  conveyed  the  same  in  1769  to 
Samuel  Talcott,  Jr.,  a  member  by  Covenant  of  the  First 
Church,  and  brother-in-law  of  its  Pastor.  Mr.  Talcott  sub- 
sequently entered  on  the  land  and  carried  off  the  foundations 
to  build  a  house  of  his  own."  These  events  could  not,  of 
course,  occur  in  the  little  village  that  Hartford  then  was, 
without — as  Timothy  Woodbridge  said  of  another  local 
quarrel  eighty  years  before — "jogging  all  the  attoms  of  the 
whole  ant  heap." 

And,  indeed,  the  extension  of  Episcopacy  in  Connecticut 
was,  by  the  generality  of  the  Congregational  ministers  and 
churches,  regarded  as  inimical  both  to  civil  and  religious 
liberty.     The  question  was  not  wholly  a  religious  one.     A 


'^  The  Court,  being  appealed  to,  restored  the  land,  on  December,  1772,  to  the 
Church.  The  movement  made  no  progress,  however,  till  after  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  when,  in  17S6,  it  was  effectually  revived,  and  a  society  organized 
November  13th.  But  the  remembrance  of  the  old  trouble  survived  in  the 
happy  day  of  laying  the  foundations  of  an  edifice  which  was  to  be  the  first 
Episcopal  Church  building  in  Hartford.  It  is  said  that  "  when  sundry  were 
gathered  to  see  the  commencement  of  the  work,  Prince  Brewster,  the  mason,  a 
member  of  the  parish,  said,  '  I  lay  this  stone  for  the  foundation  of  an  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  Sam.  Talcott,  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against 
it.' "  See  C.  J.  Hoadly's  Appendix  to  Christ  Church  Semi-Centennial  pam- 
phlet, 1879. 


1748-1772]  EPISCOPACY  IN  HARTFORD.  323 

profound  conviction  was  entertained  that  the  introduction  of 
Prelacy,  meant  the  enlargement  of  authority.  The  extension 
of  the  English  hierarchical  system  to  America,  signified  a 
new  hold  of  English  rule  upon  the  New  England  provinces. 
It  was  quite  as  much  as  a  danger  to  the  State  that  the  exten- 
sion of  Episcopacy  was  opposed,  as  it  was  a  danger  to  the 
religious  establishment.  The  Colonists  knew  well  the  assim- 
ilative power  of  religious  and  civil  institutions  brought  into 
contact  with  each  other.  And  they  perceived  a  peril  in  the 
engrafting  the  prelatical  system,  which  is  naturally  harmoni- 
ous with  monarchy,  upon  their  democratic  institutions,  still 
in  the  gristle  of  youth.  Kingly  supremacy  and  Episcopal 
rule  were  correlated  facts,  to  be  resisted  alike  and  on  substan- 
tially the  same  grounds.  This  peril,  which  was  removed  by 
the  events  of  the  Revolution  and  the  general  establishment 
of  the  country  on  democratic  foundations,  was  constantly 
before  the  minds  of  the  Colonial  fathers. 

Nor  was  the  apprehension  thus  felt  at  all  lessened  by  the 
obvious  solicitude  of  the  Home  Government  in  England 
about  the  condition  of  religious  affairs  in  America.  The 
frequent  interrogatories  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Planta- 
tions as  to  "the  Perswasion  in  Religious  matters  most  prev- 
alent "  here,  and  "  what  proportion  in  number  and  quality  of 
people  the  one  holds  to  the  other,"  had  not  been  unnoticed 
or  forgotten.  And  the  direct  endeavors  of  prelates  like 
Seeker  and  Sherlock  to  promote  the  establishment  of  an 
American  episcopate;  and  the  appeals  to  the  King,  to  the 
Archbishops  of  Canterbury  and  York,  and  to  the  Universi- 
ties of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  by  the  Episcopal  clergy  of 
several  of  the  Colonies,  in  the  furtherance  of  this  design  for 
the  extension  of  the  Anglican  hierarchy  to  this  land,  were 


324  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

recognized,  and  honestly  feared,  as  ominous  alike  to  religion 
and  to  liberty/* 

The  General  Association  of  this  State  in  1766  received 
and  responded  to  an  overture  from  the  Presbyterian  Synod 
of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  for  conference  and  agreement 
in  "  measures  that  may  be  adopted  to  preserve  our  Religious 
liberties  against  all  encroachments."  The  particular  peril  to 
be  guarded  against  is  not  specified  ;  but  it  was  well  under- 
stood to  be  the  proposed  establishment  of  bishops  in  Amer- 
ica. As  a  result  of  the  conference  between  the  General 
Association  and  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  a 
correspondence  was  opened  with  the  Committee  of  Dissent- 
ers in  England,  and  measures  set  on  foot  for  ascertaining  the 
relative  numbers  of  Episcopal  and  non-Episcopal  inhabitants 
in  the  Colonies.  The  result  of  the  Connecticut  enquiry  was 
that  in  1774  there  were  in  Hartford,  in  a  total  population  of 
4,881,  only  III  Episcopalians. 

The  Revolutionary  war,  and  the  generally  loyal  attitude  of 
the  Eipiscopal  Church  to  the  Tory  side  of  the  conflict,  post- 
poned the  development  of  the  episcopate.    But  it  was  doubt- 


'*  While  these  pages  are  passing  through  the  press  an  Address  on  John 
Adams,  delivered  before  the  Webster  Historical  Society,  January  18,  1884,  in 
Boston,  by  Hon.  Mellen  Chamberlain,  comes  to  hand,  which  admirably  states 
the  feeling  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  Colonies  on  this  matter : 
"  The  Church  of  England,  so  far  as  it  had  a  civil  establishment,  was  the  crea- 
ture of  Parliament.  It  looked  up  to  the  King  as  its  head,  and  to  the  Parlia- 
ment as  its  law  giver.  Its  creed  and  book  of  prayer  were  established  by 
statute.  It  could  not  reform  its  own  abuses.  Through  Parliament  the  laity 
amended  and  regulated  the  Church.  The  election  of  the  bishops  by  the 
clergy  was  only  nominal.  The  purity  of  spiritual  influence  was  tarnished  by 
this  strict  subordination  to  the  temporal  power.  This  was  the  system.  Its 
administration  was  still  more  objectionable  to  the  Puritans.  Its  establishment 
in  New  England  meant  a  return  to  that  state  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs 
from  which  they  had  suffered  so  much,  and  from  which  they  fled  to  the  priva- 
tions and  sufferings  of  an  inhospitable  wilderness.  So,  at  least,  they  regarded 
it.  And  the  efforts  of  the  Anglican  hierarchy  down  to  the  Revolution  never 
permitted  this  feeling  to  subside." 


1748-1772.]  EPISCOPACY   IN   HARTFORD.  325 

less  with  some  reference  to  Episcopal  separatism  as  well  as 
separatism  of  other  types  than  that,  that  Mr.  Dorr  in  his 
Election  sermon  of  1765  ''  was  moved  to  say, 

"  I  readily  own  that  every  establishment  of  a  religious  kind 
should  be  upon  the  most  generous  and  Catholic  principles, 
and  that  no  man  or  set  of  men  should  be  excluded  from  the 
benefits  of  it  for  mere  speculative  and  immaterial  points,  for 
different  modes  and  ceremonies  ;  it  must  be  something  very 
material  and  weighty  that  excludes  any.  And  the  great  un- 
happiness  in  this  case  had  been,  not  that  religious  establish- 
ments have  been  set  up  in  the  world,  but  that  they  have  gener- 
ally been  founded  upon  too  narrow,  contracted  and  ungenerous 
principles.  And  magistrates  have  too  often  gone  into  violent 
measures  in  support  of  them. 

However,  I  take  it  to  be  plain,  that  the  civil  interests  of 
mankind,  the  safety  of  the  State  requires,  that  there  be  some 
religious  establishments,  and  that  the  public  be  obliged  in 
some  just  proportion  to  support  them;  nor  have  dissenters 
cause  to  complain  of  any  little  expenses  on  this  account  any 
more  than  of  any  other  civil  expenses  whatever;  there  is 
nothing  of  persecution  in  it,  nor  can  the  consciences  of  any 
be  in  the  least  injured  thereby,  provided  they  are  not  com- 
pelled to  be  of  the  religion  of  the  State,  and  are  allowed  to 
worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  minds. 
This  they  have  a  right  to  expect,  but  they  have  no  more  right 
to  ask  for  an  exemption  from  contributing  to  the  support  of 
the  religion  of  the  State,  than  for  any  other  measure  the 
magistrate  takes  for  the  public  good,  which  they  happen  to 

dislike Suffer  me  here  to  querry  with  your  Honours 

Whether  otir  laws  in  this  Colony,  made  for  the  support  of  re- 
ligion, don't  need  some  very  material  amejidments  and  altera- 
tions ?     And  if  they  be  sufficient,   whether  the  constntction 


'*  The  Duty  of  Civil  Rulers  to  be  the  nursing  Fathers  to  the  Church  of 
Christ.  ...  A  sermon  Preached  before  the  General  Assembly.  .  .  .  May  9, 
1765.  By  Edward  Dorr,  A.  M.,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Hartford.  Hart- 
ford, Printed  by  Thomas  Green,  at  the  Heart  and  Crown,  opposite  the  State 
House,  pp.  34. 


326  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

put  Upon  them  in  majiy  of  our  executive  Courts  hath  not  a 
direct  and  natural  tendency  to  undetmine  and  sap  the  founda- 
tions of  our  ecclesiastical  constitution  ?  To  me,  I  confess,  it 
appears,  that  as  a  tax  laid  on  the  polls  and  rateable  estate  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Colony,  is  the  only  fund  the  law  hath 
provided  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  the  releasing  of 
such  members  as  have,  on  one  account  and  another,  been  ex- 
cused for  contributing  to  the  support  of  the  religion  of  the 
Government  is  such  a  diminution  of  this  fund,  as  hath  a  very 
threatening  aspect  on  our  ecclesiastical  establishment,  and 
naturally  tends,  not  only  to  enervate  and  destroy  the  same, 
but  even  to  root  out  the  very  being  of  a  learned  ministry  from 
among  us  ;  and  so  is  big  with  ruin,  both  to  Church  and 
State,  And  the  danger  in  my  apprehension,  is  increased 
from  hence,  that  most  of  these  dissenters  are  not  by  law 
obliged  to  set  up  and  support  any  religion  among  themselves. 
And  from  principle  they  profess  utterly  to  abandon  and  dis- 
claim all  covenants,  all  obligations  of  this  kind.'"  Considering 
human  nature  as  it  is,  and  the  difficult  situation  of  the  coun- 
try as  it  is  at  this  day,  is  there  no  reason  to  fear  that  many 
will  forsake  our  worship  and  our  churches,  only  from  narrow 
and  contracted  principles  of  mind  .-* " 

If  this  passage  shows  that  Mr.  Dorr  was  not  in  advance  of 
his  age  on  the  question  of  necessity  of  an  Established 
Church,  it  clearly  shows  on  the  other  hand  that  he  was  a  man 
of  good  temper  and  of  unusual  clearness  and  power  of  ex- 
pression. Granting  his  point  of  view,  it  would  be  difficult 
to  -state  his  argument  better  than  he  has  done. 

This  favorable  estimate  of  Mr.  Dorr's  ability  and  spirit  is 
strongly  confirmed  by  other  portions  of  the  Election  Sermon; 
especially  where  he  makes  a  warm  and  even  eloquent  plea  for 
effort  to  Christianize  the  Indians.     He  says  : 

"A  wide  door  is  now  opened  for  this  purpose  among  the 


^^  This  particular  asseveration  had  of  course  no  reference  to  Episcopal  dis- 
senters, from  the  State  religion.  There  were  many,  however,  of  whom  it  was 
accurately  true. 


1748-1772.]  DORR   AND   THE   INDIANS.  ,^- 

heathen  natives  of  this  Land,  and  we  shall  be  inexcusable, 
altogether  inexcusable  in  the  eyes  both  of  God  and  man,  if 
we   neglect   it.     One   great   reason,  I   doubt   not,  why  the 
heathen  have  been  permitted  to  be   such  sore  scourges  to 
these  Christian  colonies,  is  because  they  have  done  no  more 
to  send  the  gospel  among  them.     Many  difficulties,  I  know, 
great  and  almost  insurmountable  difficulties,  have  ever  here- 
tofore  attended  this  work ;  but  by  the  success  of  the  British 
arms  in  America,  and  the  late  peace  so  happily  established 
with  the  heathen  natives,  the  greater  part  of  them   are  re- 
moved out  of  the  way.     We  have  not  those  pleas  to  make,  in 
excuse   for   our   own   neglect,  that  we   once  had  when  the 
French  were  possessed  of  the  greater  part  of  the  inland  coun- 
try, and  were  continually  spiriting  up  the  Indians  against  us. 
And  I  confess  for  my  part,  I  have  but  little  hopes  or  expec- 
tations of  a  settled  peace  with  them,  till  we  thoroughly  at- 
tempt to  send  the  gospel  among  them.  Nor  do  I  ever  expect  to 
J  see  a  more  favorable  crisis  for  this  purpose  than  the  present; 
considering  the  dispositions  that  many  of  these  natives  have 
lately  shown;  their  earnest  desire  to  be  instructed  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  our  holy  religion,  and  to  have  their  children  educa- 
ted after  the  English  method  ;  it  appears  to  me  that  the  most 
favorable  opportunity  now  presents  itself  to  make  some  vig- 
orous efforts  of  this  kind,  that  we  have  ever  had,  or  probably 
ever  shall  have,  if  we  neglect  the  present.     Separate  from  all 
considerations  of  duty  to  our  Maker,  and  viewing  the  matter 
only  in  a  political  light,  it  appears  to  me,  to  be  our  real  inter- 
est to  exert  ourselves  in  this  cause ;  because  this,  if  we  con- 
ducted as  we  ought,  would  convince  the  Indians  that  we  were 
their  real  friends,  and  sought  their  best  good,  and  so  would 
naturally  attach  them  to  us   in   the   strongest  manner;  and 
this  would  be  a  cheaper  method  of  defence  against  'their 
ravages  and  insults,  than  maintaining  numerous  armies  and 
garrisons." 

If,  in  reference  to  the  question  of  an  ecclesiastical  estab- 
lishment Mr.  Dorr  held  the  common  views  of  his  time,  on  this 
Indian  question  he  certainly  spoke  words  which  are  worth 


328  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1748-1772. 

reading  by  our  Government  to-day,  as  well  as  by  the  Colo- 
nial Government  of  1765.'" 

The  only  other  extant  published  production  by  Mr.  Dorr 
is  "  a  Funeral  Discourse,  occasioned  by  the  Much  Lamented 
Death  of  the  Honorable  Daniel  Edwards,  Esq.,  of  Hart- 
ford." "  Mr.  Edwards  died  September  6,  1765,  and  the  ser- 
mon was  "  delivered  soon  after  his  decease."  It  is  a  well 
written  and  earnest  sermon,  confirming  the  impression  of 
Mr.  Dorr's  vigor  of  utterance  and  excellence  of  Christian 
spirit,  but  calling  for  no  special  comment  beyond  this. 

Several  of  Mr.  Dorr's  predecessors  in  this  pastorate  died 
young  or  youngerly  men.  Haynes,  Foster,  and  Wadsworth, 
all  died  so.  He  was  to  follow,  if  not  indeed  young,  yet  cer- 
tainly not  old.  A  kind  of  paralytic  affection  seems  to  have 
overtaken  him  at  about  forty-seven  years  of  age,  and  to 
have  increased  upon  him  till  his  death. 


i*"  In  a  note  to  the  above  quoted  passage  of  his  sermon,  Mr.  Dorr  says,  the 
"only  endeavour  of  this  kind,  that  I  know  of  at  this  day,  in  the  colony,  is  at 
Lebanon  ;  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wheelock  has  set  up  an  Indian  school  there,  and  with 
indefatigable  industry  and  zeal  has  collected  a  number  of  children  to  be  educa- 
ted after  the  English  manner,  and  instructed  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
religion.  He  has  lately  obtained  some  help  and  a  commission  from  the  Society 
in  Scotland,  incorporating  a  number  of  gentlemen  to  act  as  corresponding 
members  with  them,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  Christian  knowledge  among 
the  Indians.  But  he  has  never  yet  obtained  any  considerable  public  encour- 
agement from  the  government All  orders  and  degrees  of  men  would 

do  well  to  consider  whether  public  guilt  don't  lie  upon  the  land,  for  our  neglect 
in  these  matters." 

1'  Mr.  Edwards  was,  as  the  title  page  of  the  sermon  rehearses,  "  A  Member 
of  His  Majesty's  Council  for  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  and  one  of  the  Assist- 
ant Judges  of  the  Honorable,  the  Superior  Court,  for  said  Colony."  He  was 
the  grandson  of  William  Edwards  the  first  settler,  and  brother  of  Deacon 
John  Edwards,  who  did  so  much  in  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice.  He 
was  born  April  11,  1701 ;  married  Miss  Sarah  Hooker  in  172S,  and  had  five 
children,  who  all  died  in  childhood  but  one  daughter,  Sarah,  who  lived  to  be 
married  to  Mr.  George  Lord.  Mrs.  Lord  died  in  October,  1764,  and  Mr.  Lord 
in  October,  1765.  Mrs.  Edwards  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Hooker,  on 
part  of  whose  lot  the  church  edifice  was  built,  after  the  long  wrangle  of  1726- 
1739.     A  copy  of  Mr.  Dorr's  discourse  is  in  the  Connecticut  Historical  Library. 


1748-1772.]  DORR'S  DECLINE   AND   DEATH.  329 

The  first  intimation  of  such  trouble  appears  in  a  Society 
vote  in  December  1769 — based  on  the  Pastor's  representa- 
tion that  he  was  "  unable  to  perform  the  work  of  the  Gospel 
ministry  in  said  Society  without  assistance" — to  apply  "to 
the  ministers  of  the  South  Society  for  the  purpose  of  sup- 
plying the  pulpit  as  occasion  may  be,  and  in  case  they  cannot 
be  obtained"  then  application  was  to  be  made  "to  some 
other  suitable  person  for  the  purpose."  The  hopefulness  of 
the  application  to  the  ministers  of  the  South  Society  lay  in 
the  fact  that  Rev.  Wm.  Patten  had  been  settled  as  colleague 
with  Rev.  Elnathan  Whitman  in  September  1767,  two  years 
previously.  But  the  overture  failed,  naturally  enough.  Mr. 
Dorr's  infirmity  increased.  Votes  respecting  it  and  the 
means  of  supplying  the  deficiency  appear  from  time  to  time. 
It  will  be  enough  to  give  the  last.  At  a  meeting  held  Sep- 
tember 7,  1772,  it  was  resolved  : 

"  Whereas  by  the  Disposition  of  Divine  Providence  the 
Revd.  Edward  Dorr  our  present  Pastor  hath  for  some  time 
past  by  meanes  of  Long  and  Continued  Indisposition  been 
taken  off  from  his  work  in  the  Gospel  ministry  in  this  Soci- 
ety, and  his  present  Circumstances  being  such  as  leave  but 
little  hopes  of  His  recovery  to  former  usefulness  ....  it  is 
therefore  voted  and  agreed  that  in  the  Opinion  of  this  Soci- 
ety under  our  present  Circumstances  there  is  a  Divine  Prov- 
idence for  this  Society  to  come  into  some  measures  to  obtain 
some  suitable  Person  as  soon  as  may  be  to  preach  with  them 
upon  Probation  for  Settlement  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel 
ministry  in  said  Society." 

The  20th  of  October  following  Mr.  Dorr  died,  aged  forty- 
nine  years  and  nine  months.    A  funeral  sermon  was  preached 
on  the  occasion  by  the  now  aged  senior  pastor  of  the  Second 
Church,  who  had  been  the  cotemporary  in  the  Hartford  min- 
42 


330  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1748-1772. 

istry,  both  of  Mr.  Dorr  and  of  Mr.  Dorr's  predecessor,  Mr, 
Wadsworth."     Mr.  Whitman  says  : 

"  I  am  sensible  indeed,  that  Funeral  Encomiums  are  apt 
to  be  looked  upon  by  many  only  as  a  Piece  of  Flattery  to 
the  Living,  and  a  Compliment  to  the  Memory  of  the  Dead. 
But  I  trust  that  I  shall  stand  justified  to  you,  and  to  all  that 
were  acquainted  with  the  worthy  Pastor  I  am  now  speaking 
of.  ...  .  His  Natural  Abilities  were  good,  his  Understand- 
ing clear  and  quick,  and  his  Judgement  solid  and  penetrat- 
ing ;  and  these  Natural  Abilities  were  greatly  assisted  and 
improved  by  a  considerable  Acquaintance  with  most  of  the 
Branches  of  human  Literature,  But  it  is  more  especially 
proper  that  I  should  consider  him,  as  to  his  Acquaintance 
with  Divinity,  which  his  Business  as  a  Minister,  led  him  to 
make  his  principal  Study  ;  and  here  his  knowledge  appeared 
to  be  very  extensive  as  to  theoretical  and  practical  Divinity  ; 
his  Preaching  was  well  adapted  both  to  instruct  and  edify 
his  Hearers.  In  his  private  Conversation  he  was  pleasant, 
agreeable  and  entertaining ;  free  from  austerity  and  reserve. 
....  He  was  of  a  kind  and  benevolent  Disposition,  always 
ready  to  contribute  to  the  Relief  of  those  that  were  in  Dis- 
tress ;  this  his  own  People  have  had  large  Experience  of, 
and  I  doubt  not  will  readily  bear  witness  to,  and  I  hope  will 

long  retain  a  grateful  remembrance  of His  natural 

Constitution  was  strong  and  firm  beyond  most  of  his  Breth- 
ren in  the  Ministry,  which  enabled  him  to  bear  Fatigues  and 


'**  The  title  page  reads,  "  Able  and  Faithful  Ministers  very  needful  for  their 
People.  A  Sermon,  Preached  at  Hartford,  on  the  Day  of  the  Interment  of 
the  Rev.  Edward  Dorr,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ  there.  Who 
Departed  this  Life  October  20*,  1772,  in  the  50*"^  year  of  his  age,  and  the  25* 
of  his  Ministry.  By  Elnathan  Whitman,  A.M.  Pastor  of  the  South  Church 
xa.  Hartford.  ....  Norwich:  Printed  by  Green  and  Spooner,  1773."  pp. 
29.  Mr.  Whitman  dedicates  his  sermon  "  To  Mrs.  Helen  Dorr,  the  sorrowful 
Relict  of  Rev.  Edward  Dorr."  The  "  sorrowful  Relict,"  who  was  Helena  Tal- 
cott  (see  ante,p.  315),  and  who  had  no  children,  about  a  year  after,  November  2, 
1773,  married  Rev.  Robert  Breck  of  Springfield,  Mass.;  exchanging  thus  a 
husband  two  years  younger  than  herself,  for  one  seven  years  older.  Robert 
Breck  was  born  1713;  graduated  at  Harvard  1730;  ordained  at  Springfield, 
July  26,  1736;  died  April  23,  1784. 


1748-1772-]  DORR'S   DECLINE   AND   DEATH.  331 

go  through  Difficulties,  which  few  others  were  able  to  do ; 
and  the  benevolence  of  his  Heart  always  made  him  willing 
to  lay  out  himself  with  Assiduity  in  doing  Good  to  his  Peo- 
ple, in  every  Way  in  his  Power. 

"  But  toward  the  latter  Part  of  his  Life,  he  was  attacked 
with  a  Disorder  (supposed  to  be  of  the  paralitic  Kind)  by 
which  he  was  greatly  weakened,  and  his  Powers  both  of 
Body  and  Mind  very  much  enervated.  This  Disorder,  tho' 
it  did  not  make  very  swift  Advances  at  first,  yet  it  quickly 
appeared  to  have  made  such  an  Alteration  in  him,  that  he 
seemed  not  to  be  the  Man  he  used  to  be.  His  Sprightliness 
and  Gravity  were  greatly  abated  and  his  Flesh  emaciated, 
and  his  Strength  decayed  :  and  tho'  for  a  considerable  Time 
after  he  was  first  seized  with  this  Disorder,  he  was  able  occa- 
sionally to  perform  some  Part  of  his  ministerial  Work ;  yet 
he  seemed  to  be  slowly  and  imperceptibly  declining.  He 
was  not  insensible  that  his  Situation  was  critical  and  dan- 
gerous, and  that  the  Prospect  of  his  Recovery  was  dark  and 
precarious ;  yet  under  these  gloomy  Apprehensions,  he  mani- 
fested a  Christian  Patience  and  Fortitude  of  Mind,  and 
seemed  to  be  desirous  of  doing  all  the  Good  he  could,  and 
many  Times  exerted  himself  for  this  Purpose  much  beyond 
his  own  Strength.  ,  .  .  Latterly  he  has  been  able  to  con- 
verse but  very  little,  and  that  in  a  very  broken  Manner.  No 
Means  or  Methods  that  could  be  used  seemed  to  have  much 
Effect  toward  putting  a  Stop  to  the  Progress  of  his  Disorder, 
but  as  it  went  on  gradually  increasing  it  at  last  put  an  End 
to  his  valuable  and  important  Life,  Oct.  2o"\  1772,  in  the 
50*''  Year  of  his  Age  and  the  25*''  of  his  Ministry." 

The  age  and  announced  reserve  of  the  preacher  on  this 
occasion  forbid  us  to  think  there  was  anything  over-eulo- 
gistic in  these  utterances.  And  their  curiously  archaic  and 
mechanic  style,  when  compared  with  the  utterances  of  Mr. 
Dorr  quoted  before,  confirm  the  impression,  gained  in  many 
other  ways,  that  Mr.  Dorr  was  a  man  of  superior  qualities  of 
character  and  utterance.     His  lot  was  cast  in  a  dull  time  of 


332  THE  FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.         [1748-1772 

the  Church's  history.  He  was  cut  off  in  the  prime  of  his 
strength,  and  without  posterity  to  keep  his  name  in  remem- 
brance." But  the  tokens  that  survive  to  us,  give  him  not 
only  a  fair  but  a  very  honorable  place  in  the  line  of  the 
ministry  of  this  Church.  He  lies  beside  his  predecessors  in 
the  old  burying  ground,""  And  the  present  account  of  him 
may  well  enough  end  with  the  lines  which  follow  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Whitman's  sermon  preached  at  his  funeral,  printed  in 
the  same  pamphlet : 

An  Epitaph. 
Wrote  by  a  Friend  of  the  Deceased. 

His  Flesh  (where  all  that  Man  could  boast 
Appeared  and  shone)  lies  here  in  Dust. 
Deep  humbling  Tho't  to  Sense ;  but  Faith 
Beholds  his  Triumph  over  Death  ! 
His  soul  enlarged  in  happier  Sphere, 
Improved  in  all  that  blest  us  here; 
His  Body  rests,  'till  Christ  shall  come 
And  raise  it  to  immortal  Bloom: 
Then  like  his  Lord  the  Saint  will  shine 
In  Glories  heavenly  and  Divine. 


^^  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Dorr  Griffin  was  nephew  of  the  Pastor  of  this  Church,  and 
was  named  for  him ;  being  the  child  of  his  sister,  Eve  Dorr,  remembered  in 
Mr.  Dorr's  will. 

^^  Mr.  Dorr's  Will,  dated  Jan.  2,  1770,  and  proved  Dec.  3,  1772,  gave  all  his 
real  and  personal  property  in  Hartford  (except  his  wearing  apparel,  which  is 
left  to  his  brothers,  George  and  Mathew  Dorr  of  Lyme,  and  ;^i5  each  to  his 
sisters,  Elizabeth  and  Eve)  to  his  wife,  Helena  Dorr.  The  Inventory  of  his 
estate  was  returned  to  the  Court  "  by  Mrs.  Helena  Brick,  alias  Dorr."  The 
whole  amount  of  his  Hartford  property  was  ;^726  ds.  lod.  His  Library  was 
valued  at  £ig  /\s.  4^.;  his  house  and  his  homestead  at  ^^400;  other  lands  at 
;^I26.  Among  the  items  of  the  inventory  are  "A  Negro  woman  called  Sikey 
;^I5;  a  Negro  boy  called  Peter  ;^55;  a  horse  ;^io;  a  Cheise  £();  Silver  54  oz. 
7  penny  weit." 

Mrs.  Helena  [Dorr]  Breck  survived  her  second  husband,  Rev.  Robert  Breck, 
who  died  April  23,  17S4;  and  probably  returned  to  Hartford  as  her  abode,  dying 
July  9,  1797,  and  being  buried  in  the  same  grave  with  Mr.  Dorr. 


^^t^^t^v^ 


CHAPTER    XIII 


NATHAN  STRONG  AND  HIS  DAYS. 

The  protracted  disablement  of  Mr.  Dorr  from  the  duties 
of  his  office  and  finally  his  death,  made  necessary  the  tem- 
porary service  of  other  preachers,  but  no  overtures  to  any  of 
them  reached  the  point  of  official  record '  till,  on  the  3d  of 
December,  1772,  the  Society  took  this  action  : 

"  Voted  to  desire  and  direct  the  Societys  Committee  to 
apply  to  M'  Joseph  How  to  Know  of  him  wheither  He  is  so 
disengaged  or  at  liberty  that  he  can  accept  of  an  Invitation 
to  preach  upon  probation  in  this  Society  in  Order  to  Settle 
in  the  Work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry." 

Mr.  Howe,  who  was  thus  applied  to,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  men  of  his  time,  and  though  cut  off  from  life  in 
early  manhood,  has  left  traces  of  unusual  warmth  and  color 
on  the  generally  gray  and  musty  pages  of  history.     He  was 


1  The  late  Harvey  Seymour  of  this  Church — who  died  April  25, 188 1,  aged  84, 
and  who  was  a  native  of  West  Hartford,  and  well  acquainted  with  Dr.  Nathan 
Perkins — told  the  writer  that  Mr.  Perkins  was  approached  upon  the  question  of 
the  Hartford  pastorate,  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Dorr.  His  father,  however, 
Mr.  Mathew  Perkins  of  Norwich,  an  extensive  landowner,  advised  his  son 
Nathan  to  go  to  West  Hartford  rather  than  to  Hartford,  alleging  that  Hartford 
"was  as  big  a  place  as  it  ever  would  be,"  and  that  the  "good  farms  of  West 
Hartford  would  be  a  better  security  for  a  minister,  than  the  trade  of  Hartford 
town."  The  son  took  his  father's  advice,  and  was  ordained  in  West  Hartford 
Oct.  14,  1772,  and  the  land  interest  so  prospered  in  his  hands,  that  when  he 
died,  Jan.  iS,  1838,  he  was  said  to  be  the  largest  landowner  in  town.  Dr.  Per- 
kins was  born  May  12,  174S;  graduated  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1770; 
married  (1774)  Catherine,  daughter  of  Rev.  Timothy  Pitkin  of  Farmington  ; 
and  fulfilled  at  West  Hartford  a  useful  and  honorable  ministry  of  sixly-three 
years. 


334  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

born  at  Killingly,  Jan.  14,  1747,  and  graduated  with  the  first 
honors  of  his  class  at  Yale  College  in  1765.  Recommended 
by  President  Clap,  he  taught  the  Grammar  School  at  Hart- 
ford after  his  graduation;  was  licensed  to  preach  May  17th, 
1769,  and  was  Tutor  in  Yale  College  from  1769  to  1772. 

He  preached  in  Guilford,  West  Hartford,  Wethersfield, 
and  Norwich,  and  everywhere  with  singular  and  enthusiastic 
success.  In  May  1772,  while  on  a  journey  to  Boston  for  his 
health,  he  preached  a  single  Sunday  for  the  New  South 
Church,  and,  in  very  unusual  haste  for  the  fashion  of  the 
times,  received  a  call  to  settlement  ;  the  justification  of  such 
precipitancy  being  "  the  character  which  Mr.  Howe  had 
recieved  from  the  voice  of  Mankind."  He  was  installed  in 
that  pastorate  May  19,  1773.  Forced  to  leave  Boston  at  the 
British  occupation  in  1775,  he  went  to  his  old  home  in  Nor- 
wich. From  there  he  came  on  a  journey  to  Hartford,  where 
he  died  suddenly,  August  25,  1775,  at  the  house  of  Rev. 
Elnathan  Whitman,  to  whose  daughter  Elizabeth  ^  he  was 
engaged  to  be  married. 


^  This  was  the  young  lady  whose  tragic  after-history,  told  in  the  novel  77;*? 
Coquette,  or  the  Life  and  Letters  of  Eliza  Wharton,  enchanted  so  the  readers  of 
our  grandmothers'  times,  and  has  had  a  romantic  interest  ever  since.  In 
the  Connecticut  Courant  of  March  18,  1776,  is  an  "Elegy  on  the  death  of 
Rev.  Joseph  Howe,"  written  by  a  lady  of  his  Boston  church,  in  which  the 
authoress  depicts  the  funeral  scene: 

"  The  fair  Eliza's  anguish  who  can  paint 
Placed  near  the  corse  of  our  ascended  saint  ? 
Though  his  blest  soul  ascends  the  upp^r  skies 
Her  gentle  bosom  heaves  with  tender  sighs." 

The  same  eulogy  sings  in  reference  to  Mr.  Howe  as  a  preacher : 

"  He  in  refined  pathetic  sermons  shone, 
His  diction  pure,  his  methods  all  his  own; 
"While  his  melodious  voice  his  audience  blessed 
And  rouzed  each  noble  passion  in  the  breast." 

Mr.  Howe  was  buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground,  Aug.  26th,  the  day  after 
he  died.  No  monument  marks  his  resting  place.  See  Sprague's  Annals,  vol.  i, 
pp.  707-710,  and  Courant,  Sept.  4,  1775,  and^March  18,. 1776. 


i774-i8i6.]  SETTLEMENT   OF   STRONG.  33c 

The  overture  to  Mr.  Howe  was  made,  it  will  be  noticed,  in 
the  interim  between  his  reception  of  the  Boston  call  and  his 
rather  delayed  settlement  there  ;  which  accounts  for  the  rather 
hesitant  and  unexpectant  terms  in  which  it  was  phrased. 

Failing  in  this  motion  toward  Mr.  Howe,  the  Society  turned 
to  another  candidate — "  Mr.  Nathan  Strong  jr.  of  Coventry." 
It  is  impossible  to  say  just  when  or  for  how  long  a  time  Mr. 
Strong  preached  /'  on  probation "  at  Hartford.  What  ap- 
pears in  the  terms  of  it  like  a  positive  "  Invitation  to  settle 
in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry,"  inscribed  on  the  record 
under  date  of  June  14,  1773,  is  somewhat  perplexingly  fol- 
lowed, on  the  30th  of  September,  by  another  vote  that  it  is 
"  the  mind  of  this  Society  to  settle  Mr.  Nathan  Strong  jr.  of 
Coventry  in  the  office  of  a  Gospel  minister  here,"  and  a  res- 
olution that  "  Messrs.  Sam^  Talcott,  James  Sheppard  and 
John  Lawrence  be  a  Committee  to  attend  upon  and  request 
the  Advice  of  the  Reverend  Elders  of  the  Northern  Associa- 
tion "  in  the  matter. 

The  Society  also  voted  that  in  case  Mr.  Strong  accepted 
the  call  there  should  be  paid  to  him, 

"  The  sum  of  four  hundred  pounds  Lawful  money  within 
three  years  .  .  .  and  also  this  Society  will  annually  pay  to 
said  Mr.  Strong  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds 
Lawful  money  as  a  Salary  for  and  during  his  Service  and 
Labour  amongst  us." 

To  this  overture  Mr.  Strong  made  a  reply,  October  18, 
1773,  expressing  himself  gratified  with  the  overture,  but 
saying : 

"  I  find  myself  obliged  to  observe  upon  a  certain  Clause  in 
one  of  the  Votes,  expressed  in  a  manner  uncommon,  though 
perhaps  not  entirely  new.  The  clause  which  I  mean  is  this, 
for  and  during  his  Service  and  Labour  among  us  in  the 
Work  of  the  Gospel  ministry.     I  am  not  the  best  skilled  in 


336  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

Contracts  of  this  Nature ;  yet  I  think  it  may  be  a  matter  of 
dispute  whether  by  that  vote  I  am  entitled  to  a  support  any 
longer  than  while  I  perform  all  the  Service  and  Labour  com- 
mon to  that  office.  ...  In  matters  of  such  importance, 
contracting  Parties  cannot  too  well  understand  each  others' 
intentions.  Many  long  and  unhappy  controversies  arise 
from  a  little  obscurity  in  original  agreements. 

"  A  generous  Settlement  in  Hartford  will  only  purchase  a 
Comfortable  Habitation.  A  generous  Salary  will  only  main- 
tain a  family  with  decency.  .  .  .  Though  it  is  dishonora- 
ble in  any  person  and  uncommonly  so  in  one  who  means  to 
devote  himself  to  the  Sacred  Office,  to  be  anxiously  solicit- 
ous in  matters  of  this  nature,  yet  I  believe  it  his  indispensa- 
ble duty,  in  common  with  all  others,  to  use  all  prudent  means 
in  providing  against  want  and  necessity.  I  cannot  think  the 
laws  of  Christianity  will  oblige  any  person  to  put  himself  in 
a  Condition  that  if  by  the  Providence  of  God  he  is  for  a 
time  rendered  unable  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  Office,  he 
shall  have  no  method  to  obtain  even  the  necessaries  of  life 
at  a  time  when  uncommon  expenses  will  arise. 

"  For  this  reason  I  find  myself  unable  to  give  an  answer 
that  will  be  conclusive  either  way,  until  you  make  it  so  by 
your  own  act.  If  Gentlemen  it  is  your  Intention  that  I 
shall  yearly  receive  the  Salary  mentioned  in  your  Vote,  so 
long  as  I  shall  continue  minister  of  this  Society,  and  if  you 
shall  by  a  Vote  inserted  in  your  Records  with  this  answer, 
unanimously  manifest  this  to  be  your  meaning  and  Intention, 
I  will  then  accept  your  proposals,  depending  on  your 
Candour." 

This  answer  being  read  in  the  Society  meeting,  November, 
loth,  it  was  "Voted,  that  the  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds 
voted  for  Mr.  Strong's  annual  salary  is  to  be  paid  annually 
as  long  as  he  continues  settled  in  the  Gospel  ministry  in  this 
Society."  A  clear  understanding  being  thus  arrived  at, 
"  Messrs  George  Wyllys  Esq,  Doct'  Solomon  Smith,  Jno. 
Lawrence  Esq,  Capt.  George  Smith,  Jesse  Root,  and  Capt. 


774-i8i6.]  SETTLEMENT   OF   STRONG.  337 

James  Nickolls  "  were  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  out 
"  at  the  cost  and  charge  of  the  Society  "  the  business  of  the 
ordination,  which  was  "  Desired  to  be  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  January  next." 

Accordingly  on  January  5,  1774,  Mr.  Strong  was  ordained. 
A  contemporaneous  account  of  the  matter  is  preserved  ^  in 
the  following  words  : 

"  On  the  5th  instant  was  inducted  into  the  Pastoral  Office 
in  the  first  and  antient  Society  in  this  Town,  the  Rev'd 
Nathan  Strong  jun.  late  Tutor  in  Yale  College.  The 
Reverend  Council  conven'd  on  the  Public  Occasion  at  the 
House  of  Capt.  Hugh  Ledlie,  from  thence  walk'd  in  Proces- 
sion to  the  Meeting  House,  preceded  by  the  Brethren  of 
said  Church  and  the  Society  Committee  ;  with  the  former 
walked  Mr.  William  Cadwell  in  the  90'''  year  of  his  Age. 
The  religious  Services  began  with  an  Anthem  :  the  Rev'd 
Timothy  Pitkin  of  Farmington  made  the  first  Prayer — the 
Rev'd  Nathan  Strong  of  Coventry  preached  a  Sermon  suited 
to  the  Occasion  from  those  Words  in  2  Tim.  4th  Chapter 
and  5th  verse,  closed  the  same  with  a  very  affectionate  Ad- 
dress to  his  Son  and  the  Church  and  People  of  his  Charge 
— the  Rev'd  Robert  Breck  of  Springfield  made  the  Prayer 
immediately  preceding  the  Charge — the  Rev'd  Elnathan 
Whitman  of  this  Town  gave  the  Charge — the  Rev'd  Heze- 
kiah  Bissell  of  Windsor  made  the  Prayer  immediately  suc- 
ceeding the  Charge,  and  the  Rev'd  Eliphalct  Williams  of 
East  Hartford  gave  the  Right  Hand.  A  Psalm  and  an  An- 
them then  closed  the  whole.  Every  Part  in  the  Public  Exer- 
cises was  perform'd  with  great  Decency  and  Solemnity  ;  after 
which  the  Reverend  Council  return'd  in  Procession  as  afore- 
said to  Capt.  Ledlie  s  where  a  generous  Entertainment  was 
provided  for  the  Council,  all  Gentlemen   Spectators  in  the 


^  Connecticut  Courant,  ]3.n.  11,  1774.  The  house  of  Capt.  Ledlie,  to  which 
reference  is  made  in  the  Coiirant  account  of  the  ordination,  was  situated  where 
now  stands  the  Allyn  House  Hotel,  and  was  afterward  occupied  by  Mr.  George 
Goodwin. 

43 


338  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [1774-1816. 

Ministry,  Candidates  for  the  Ministry  and  Gentlemen  of  lib- 
eral Education.  As  the  Settlement  was  unanimous  and 
Promising  a  becoming  Chearfulness  and  Decency  appear'd 
among  all  Orders  of  Persons  present  on  the  Occasion." 

The  sermon  thus  preached  was  published  at  the  expense 
of  the  Society,  and  by  its  vote  distributed  "  One  to  each 
person  who  pays  a  Rate  the  present  year  within  this  Society." 

The  new  Pastor  thus  at  twenty-five  years  of  age  set  in 
office,  was  born  at  Coventry,  October  16,  1748.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth  generation  from  John  Strong, 
ruling  elder  of  the  First  Church  of  Northampton,  Mass., 
who  came  to  New  England  in  1630  and  died  in  great  old 
age  in  1699.  His  father  was  Rev.  Nathan  Strong  of 
Coventry,  born  in  Woodbury,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College 
in  1742,  in  the  class  with  Edward  Dorr;  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Second  Church  in  Coventry,  October  9,  1745,  and 
died  October  19th,  1793,  in  his  sixty-eighth  year.  His 
mother  was  Esther  Meacham,  daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Meacham  of  Coventry,  by  Esther  Williams,  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Williams  of  Deerfield,  Mass.,  who  with  her 
father  was  carried  captive  to  Canada,  February  29,  1704, 
and  restored    November  21,   1706. 

Of  young  Nathan  little  is  recorded  previous  to  his  educa- 
tion at  college.  The  sermon  preached  by  his  father  at  his 
installation  indicates  that  the  household  instruction  brought 
to  bear  upon  his  childhood  must  have  been  of  a  robustly 
Calvinistic  type.  "  Eternal  election,  original  sin,  the  impu- 
.tation  of  Christ's  righteousness,  justification  by  faith  alone, 
the  necessity  of  special  grace  in  conversion,  the  saint's  per- 
severance in  holiness  unto  eternal  life,"  are  declared  in  that 
sermon  to  be  "the  principal  basis  and  foundation  on  which 
the  superstructure  of  our  holy  religion  stands." 


i774-i8i6.]  STRONG  AND   HIS   TIMES.  33Q 

It  was  while  still  a  resident  of  his  father's  house  and 
before  entering  on  his  college  course,  that  those  effectual 
impressions  were  made  upon  his  mind  to  which  he  used 
afterwards  to  refer  as  the  beginning  of  his  spiritual  life. 

The  class  at  Yale  in  which  he  graduated,  that  of  1769, 
contained  several  members  destined  to  distinction,  but  among 
them  two  easily  distanced  all  others.  These  were  Timothy 
Dwight,  afterwards  the  President,  and  Nathan  Strong.  The 
standing  of  these  two  made  the  question  of  the  chief  class 
honor  a  delicate  question  to  decide  ;  but  it  was  given  to 
Strong  as  being  the  elder,  with  the  understanding  that 
Dwight  should  have  the  priority  at  the  taking  of  the  Master's 
degree. 

After  his  graduation  Mr.  Strong  began  the  study  of  law, 
but  as  we  are  told  "suddenly  changed  his  purpose"  and 
turned  his  attention  to  theology.  He  was  appointed  Tutor 
in  Yale  College  in  1772,  occupying  the  position  two  years, 
during  which  time  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  New 
Haven  East  Association,  and  made  his  first  essays  at  pulpit 
utterance.  These  were  so  acceptable  that  his  permanent 
ministrations  were  sought  by  various  churches.  Among 
these  was  the  First  Church  in  Hartford,  which  having  ap- 
plied to  President  Stiles  concerning  the  Tutor's  fitness  for 
the  Hartford  pastorate,  is  said  to  have  been  told  by  him  that 
Mr.  Strong  was  "the  most  universal  scholar  he  ever  knew." 

Fairly  established  at  Hartford,  Mr.  Strong  on  November 
20,  1777,  married  Anne  Smith,  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Dea. 
Solomon  Smith,  a  young  lady  of  about  eighteen  years  of  age. 

The  period  of  the  institution  of  the  new  pastorate  was  a 
trying  one.  The  colonial  relationships  to  Great  Britain  were 
just  on  the  point  of  rupture,  and  the  feeble  confederacies 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  were  about  entering  on  a  pro- 


340  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

tracted  and  exhausting  war  with  that  then  recognizedly  chief 
belligerent  power  in  the  world.  Divisions  of  sentiment  re- 
specting not  only  the  details  of  the  struggle  but  the  main 
aim  and  method  of  it,  divided  to  some  extent  every  commu- 
nity, and  very  distinctly  that  of  Connecticut.  In  this  condi- 
tion of  affairs  Mr.  Strong  threw  himself  with  great  energy 
into  the  conflict  for  American  liberty.  He  served  some  time 
as  chaplain  to  the  troops.  He  wrote  and  preached  in  sup- 
port of  the  patriotic  cause.^  Especially  in  the  later  political 
discussions  connected  with  the  establishment  of  the  Federal 
Constitution  he  published  a  series  of  about  twenty  articles 
intended  to  harmonize  public  opinion  in  the  ratification  of 
that  instrument.  It  was  not  probably  at  all  on  account  of 
his  ardent  advocacy  of  this  cause,  but  it  was  certainly  ap- 
propriately harmonious  with  it,  that  the  Convention  which 
ratified  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  on  the  part  of 
Connecticut,  was  held  in  the  church  edifice  of  this  Society 
in  1788. 

As  the  war  progressed,  financial  difificulties  lent  their 
embarrassment  to  parochial  and  pastoral  relationships,  as 
well  as  to  all  other  relationships  having  a  monetary  aspect. 
Representations  were  several  times  made  to  the  Society  by 
the    Pastor   concerning  the  insufficiency  of  his.  salary  "to 


*  One  of  his  sermons  was  at  the  execution  of  Moses  Dunbar :  "  The  Rea- 
sons and  Design  of  public  Punishment :  A  Sermon  delivered  before  the  Peo- 
ple who  were  Collected  at  the  Execution  of  Moses  Dunbar  who  was  con- 
demned for  High  Treason  against  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  executed 
March  19"'  A.D.  1777,  by  Nathan  Strong,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Hart- 
ford. Printed  and  sold  by  Eben.  Watson,  M.D.  CCLXVII."  16"".  The  ser- 
mon does  not  give  any  considerable  account  of  the  convict  or  his  crime,  but 
deals  with  general  moral  considerations  concerning  obedience  to  law  and  gov- 
ernment, and  allegiance  to  rulers.  One  sentence  may  be  quoted  as  illustrative 
of  the  preacher's  vigorous  style :  "  It  is  known  and  cannot  be  secreted  that 
many  prefer  a  sordid  gain  to  the  salvation  of  their  country,  and  would  damn 
an  empire  to  share  a  penny." 


i774-i8i6.]  STRONG  AND   HIS   TIMES.  34 1 

afford  him  a  decent  and  comfortable  support,"  owing  to  the 
depreciated  condition  of  the  currency ;  and  attempts,  more  or 
less  adequate,  were  made  for  his  redress.  It  significantly 
illustrates  the  pass  things  had  come  to  in  1779,  five  years 
after  the  Pastor's  settlement,  that  at  that  date  the  Society 
voted,  in  addition  to  the  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds 
promised  Mr.  Strong  at  his  coming,  the  sum  of  three  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  seventy  pounds,  to  make  up  the 
current  year's  deficiency." 

At  the  same  time  with  these  financial  embarrasments  of 
the  Society,  the  condition  of  the  Church,  and  of  the  churches 
generally,  was  very  low. 

The  half-way-covenant  sowing  was  producing  its  natural 
harvest.  There  were  only  fifteen  male  members  in  full  com- 
munion in  this  Church  when  Mr.  Strong  was  set  in  pastoral 
charge.  As  the  public  conflict  progressed,  a  tide  of  infidel- 
ity set  in  under  the  sympathetic  influence  of  French  associ- 
ations in  the  war  of  Independence,  and  religion  became,  to 


*  This  seems  to  have  been  the  worst  point  of  the  depreciation  so  far  as 
appears  on  the  Society  records.  Up  to  this  time  the  "  Settlement  "  provision 
for  Mr.  Strong,  in  distinction  from  his  annual  salary,  had  been  only  partly  paid. 
In  1780  a  vote  was  passed  granting  "three  hundred  Pounds  in  Lawful  Silver 
money,  computing  Spanish  milled  Dollars  at  six  Shillings  each  ....  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  Rev.  Nathan  Strong  in  part  of  what  this  Society  are  in 
arrears  to  him  for  his  Settlement  and  his  Annual  Salary."  "  Distress  war- 
rants" were  issued  against  sundry  delinquent  rate-payers  through  all  these 
years.  The  story  is  that  this  Society,  brought  face  to  face  with  the  accumulated 
arrearages  due  the  Pastor,  was  rather  reluctant  to  settle  the  debt ;  but  its  mem- 
bers were  addressed  in  Society-meeting  by  Judge  Oliver  Ellsworth  :  "  Gentle- 
men, we  owe  this  money  honestly  and  must  not  refuse  to  pay  it."  When  matters 
settled  down,  after  the  war  was  over,  additions  of  twenty  or  fifty  pounds  were 
occasionally  voted  to  the  Pastor's  salary.  In  1797  and  afterwards,  dollars  and 
pounds  appear  side  by  side  on  the  records  till  1803,  when  it  is  voted  that 
"  Eighty  Pounds  (or  Two  Hundred  Sixty  Six  Dollars  &  ^^)  be  granted  Rev. 
Nathan  Strong  in  addition  to  his  stipulated  Salary."  From  1797  to  1803,  the 
salary  was  $600.  In  1809  the  vote  is  that  "  Seven  hundred  Dollars  shall  be  the 
Salary  of  Rev.  Nathan  Strong  annually;"  to  which  from  18 12  onward,  an 
annual  addition  of  $150  was  regularly  voted. 


342  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1774-1816. 

an  extent  unknown  before  or  since  in  this  land,  a  matter  for 
gibe  and  contempt. 

Family  afflictions  too,  shadowed  this  portion  of  the  Pas- 
tor's history  with  unusual  gloom.  His  young  wife,  Anne 
Smith,  died  less  than  seven  years  after  their  marriage,  on 
October  17,  1784,  leaving  two  young  children  behind  her." 

Married  again,  June  20,  1787,  to  Anna  McCurdy  of  Lyme, 
he  was  again  made  desolate,  by  her  death,  March  22,  1789. 
She  left  with  him  an  infant  child.'  For  the  remaining 
twenty-six  years  of  his  life  Mr.  Strong  continued  a  widower. 

Meantime  the  earlier  period  of  Mr.  Strong's  ministry  can- 
not be  said  to  have  been  marked  by  tokens  of  spiritual  vigor. 
Perhaps  this  was  in  the  nature  of  events  impossible.  It 
may  be  however  that  Mr.  Strong  was  lacking  in  some  of 
those  deeper  convictions  which  distinguished  and  made  so 
powerful  his  later  ministry.  It  serves  perhaps  to  corrobo- 
rate this  impression,  to  know  that  in  a  considerable  part  of 


s  Dr.  Strong's  children  by  Anne  Smith  were  : 

1.  Anne  Smith  Strong,  born  Sept.  10,  1778;  married  Rev.  David  L.  Perry 
of  Sharon.  She  died  Oct.,  1840.  Mr.  P^rry  was  born  June  21,  1777  ; 
grad.  Yale  College  1997  ;  ord.  at  Sharon,  June  6,  1804 ;  died  Oct.  25,  1835. 

2.  Nathan  Strong,  M.D.,  born  Aug.  12,  1871  ;  grad.  at  Williams  College 
1802 ;  studied  theology  and  preached  a  short  time ;  became  a  physician ; 
married  Frances  Butler  ;  settled  in  Hartford  and  died  Aug.  2,  1837.  Na- 
than Strong,  M.D.,  by  his  wife  Frances  Butler  (died  July  7,  1849),  had 
three  children : 

i.  Frances  Anne,  born  Feb.  11,  1814;  died  April  8,1853.  Well  remem- 
bered yet  as  the  Principal  of  Hartford  Female  Seminary. 

ii.     Sarah  Butler  married,  1836,  J.  C.  Donnell.     She  died  Aug.  20,  i860. 

iii.     Nathan,  born  about  1822;  grad.  at  Trinity  College;  died  in  1863  or  '64. 

''John  McCurdy  Strong,  born  Aug.  12,  1788;  grad,  at  Yale  1806;  drowned 
while  attempting  to  cross  the  river  at  the  ferry  on  Sept.  16,  1806.  The  young 
man  on  his  return  from  a  journey  to  Norwich  rode  his  horse  aboard  the  ferry- 
boat, and  in  the  horse's  fright  in  the  stream  went  over  the  boat's  side  and  was 
drowned.  The  funeral  was  attended  the  following  day  at  the  Second  Church, 
Dr.  Flint  preaching  the  sermon  from  Matt,  xxiv,  44  (published  by  Lincoln  & 
Gleason,  Hartford)  and  Dr.  Perkins  offering  the  prayer.  See  Courant,  Sept. 
24,  1806. 


i774-i8i6.]  STRONG   AND    HIS   TIMES.  343 

this  portion  of  his  life,  Mr.  Strong  was  engaged  extensively 
in  the  distillery  business,  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Reuben 
Smith.  The  records  of  Hartford  land  transfers  show  some 
twenty  deeds  of  real  estate  involving  thirty  or  forty  thou- 
sand dollars  worth  of  property,  bought  and  sold  by  the  part- 
nership of  "Reuben  Smith  &  Co." — Nathan  Strong's  name 
however  generally  taking  the  priority  in  the  deeds  made  to 
or  by  the  partners — between  1790  and  1796,  together  with 
their  vats,  stills,  and  cooper-shops,  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
enterprise.'  The  venture,  into  which  Mr.  Strong  is  said  to 
have  put  the  patrimony  derived  from  his  father's  estate,  was 
ultimately  unfortunate  from  a  pecuniary  point  of  view,  and 
in  October  1798  writs  of  attachments  were  levied  against 
the  property,  and  in  default  of  that,  against  the  bodies  of 
Messrs.  Strong  &  Smith,  on  judgment  against  them.  Mr. 
Smith  prudently  took  himself  to  New  York.  Mr.  Strong 
remained  in  the  house  he  had  built — the  house  just  south  of 
the  Athenaeum — which  was  attached  under  the  sheriff's  war- 
rant." It  is  said  that  the  sheriff  proposed  to  take  Mr.  Strong 
to  jail,  but  relented  when  told  that  he  "  would  go  with  him  if 
compelled,  but  if  he  went  he  would   never  enter  the  pulpit 

»J    10 

agam. 


"  The  purchase  o£  the  properties  for  the  distillery  business  began  in  1790. 
The  chief  sales  of  them  were  made  in  July,  1796.  On  the  25th  of  that  month  the 
distillery  property  of  the  two  partners,  on  the  East  Creek,  bounded  west  by 
Front  Street  and  north  by  land  of  D.  Goodwin,  with  stills,  vats,  cooper-shops, 
etc.,  was  disposed  of  to  Benj.  G.  Minturn  and  John  Champlin,  for  $10,500;  and 
nine  other  pieces  of  property  to  various  parties  to  the  amount  of  $21,706. 

^Two  writs  in  favor  of  Timothy  Phelps  of  New  Haven,  for  recovery  of  judg- 
ment, granted  July  1798,  to  the  amount  of  a  little  over  $1,100  each,  were  thus 
at  this  time  served ;  and  execution  returned  on  the  land  and  house  of  Nathan 
Strong,  Oct.  i,  1798.  Two  writs  in  recovery  of  judgment  in  favor  of  Malcom 
McEwen — respectively  for  ^117  14s.  yd.,  and  ^125  12^.3^. — had  been  pre- 
viously (Sept.  17,  1796)  satisfied  out  of  Mr.  Strong's  personal  property. 

^°  One  of  Mr.  Strong's  characteristic  sharp  sayings  was  in  connection  with 
this  distillery  business.     Some  one  had  suggested  in  an  Association  meeting 


344  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1774-1816. 

Whether  the  business  distress  which  began  to  press  upon 
Mr.  Strong  several  years  before  this  culminating  incident  of 
his  disaster,  had  any  causal  connection  with  an  altered  tone 
in  his  ministry  and  a  revived  condition  of  things  in  his 
Church,  it  is  perhaps  presumptuous  to  assert.  But  certain  it 
is  that  the  year  1794,  at  which  time  the  distillery  business 
had  broken  down  and  the  sale  of  effects  appertaining  to  it 
had  begun,  witnessed  the  first  indication  of  the  spiritual 
awakening  of  his  flock.  One  token  of  this  quickened  relig- 
ious interest  remains  in  a  vote  of  the  Society,  December  16, 
1794,  "to  light  the  meeting-house  for  evening  lectures  ;"  this 
being  probably  the  first  time  religious  meetings  were  ever 
held  in  any  public  building  belonging  to  this  Society  in  the 
evening. 

Mr.  Strong's  friend,  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins  of  East  Wind- 
sor, says  that  previous  to  1794  "there  had  been  frequent 
instances  of  individual  subjects  of  divine  grace,  but  no  gen- 
eral attention  among  his  people."  "  But  certainly  from  about 
this  point,  the  history  of  this  pastorate  is  one  of  the  most 
illustrious  in  this  Church's  annals.  No  one  before  this  time 
could  have  questioned  the  Pastor's  great  abilities  ;  no  one 
after  this  time  could  have  doubted  his  sincere  and  increasing 
consecration  to  the  Christian  service. 

A  man  of  indefatigable  industry,  of  great  acquirements,  of 
ready  and  fertile  faculties,  of  strong  and  penetrating  intellect 
and  of  cogent  and  commanding  address,  he  gave  henceforth 
the  utmost  resources  of  his  mind  and  heart  to  his  Lord's 
work. 


that  it  was  hardly  the  thing  for  the  Pastor  of  the  Hartford  Church  to  be 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  liquor.  "  O,"  said  Mr.  Strong,  "we 
are  all  in  one  boat  in  the  business.  Brother  Perkins  raises  the  grain,  I  distil 
it,  and  Brother  Flint  drinks  it." 

^'  Biographic  Notice,  Connecticut  Coia-ant,  Dec.  31,  1S16. 


i774-i8i6.]      STRONG   AS    PREACHER   AND   WRITER.  345 

This  devotion  had  its  appropriate  recompense.  Following 
the  revival  of  1794.  another  much  more  powerful  occurred  in 
1798  and  1799,  which  wrought  a  great  and  lasting  change  in 
the  religious  condition  of  the  congregation  and  the  commun- 
ity. In  connection  with  this  religious  movement  and  as  pro- 
motive of  its  aims,  Mr.  Strong  published  two  volumes  of  ser- 
mons, one  in  1798  and  the  other  in  1800; '"  the  first  espec- 
ially fitted  to  the  awakening,  the  second  to  the  development 
and  confirmation  of  evangelic  piety.  They  are  sermons  full 
of  vigorous  thought  and  utterance,  and  generally  simple  and 
direct  in  aim.  No  one  can  read  them  and  wonder  that  they 
powerfully  impressed  their  hearers.  They  were,  perhaps,  the 
immediate  occasion  of  the  conferring  on  their  author  of  the 
degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  by  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
in  1801. 

As  a  sample  of  their  robust  and  unstudied  style  a  speci- 
men may  be  quoted  here  from  the  "  improvement "  of  the 
sermon  entitled  :  On  the  different  conditions  of  men  in  the 
presejit  aiid  future  world.     Luke  xvi,  25  : 

"  This  subject  shows  the  vast  alteration  there  may  be  in  the 
condition  of  persons  in  the  present  and  in  the  future  world. 
We  are  very  liable  to  form  an  opinion  of  the  perpetual  con- 
dition of  men,  from  their  present  state.  If  they  are  affluent, 
great  and  happy  here,  we  are  apt  to  suppose  that  this  will  al- 
ways be  their  condition.  Such  worldly  distinctions  have  a 
great  impression  on  the  mind  ;  and  if  these  persons  do  not 
appear  publicly  on  the  side  of  piety,  many  seem  to  think  that 
religion  is  of  little  consequence,  and  that  we  can  be  truly 
safe  and  respectable  without  it.  By  things  remaining  as  they 
were,  they  think  it  will  always  be  thus.  But  with  a  multitude 


'*  "  Sermons  on  Various  Subjects,  Doctrinal,  Experimental  and  Practical,  by 
Nathan  Strong,  Pastor  of  the  North  Presbyterian  Church  in  Hartford,  Connec- 
ticut."  Vol.  i,  Hartford,  Hudson  and  Goodwin,  179S.  Vol.  ii,  Hartford,  Printed 
by  John  Babcock  for  Oliver  D.  and  I.  Cooke,  1800. 
44 


246  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

of  men,  there  will  be  an  amazing  and  an  awful  change.  From 
boundless  wealth,  and  all  the  means  of  a  gay  and  amusing 
life,  they  will  go  empty-handed,  naked  and  friendless  into 
the  eternal  world ;  and  there  without  a  comforter  meet  the 
justice  of  a  long-suffering  and  abused  Judge.  From  power 
and  office  and  influence,  which  they  supposed  to  be  their  own 
exclusively,  and  on  which  they  depended  for  protection,  they 
they  will  go  defenceless  to  a  state  of  woe.  It  is  difficult,  for 
those  who  possess  these  earthly  advantages,  to  conceive  that 
they  shall  sink  to  such  ruin  and  fall  far  below  those  whom 
they  now  despise.  But  if  the  word  of  God  is  to  be  credited 
there  will  in  very  many  cases  be  this  change.  God  seeth  not 
as  man  seeth,  and  he  judgeth  not  on  the  principles  of  human 
pride.  He  is  not  resisted  in  his  way,  nor  can  the  present  in- 
fluence of  men  change  the  course  of  his  power.  He  is  as 
much  the  creator,  proprietor  and  judge  of  the  rich  and  pow- 
erful man,  as  he  is  of  the  poor  and  of  the  weak.  He  is  as 
much  the  father  of  one  as  he  is  of  the  other.  The  interests  of 
each  are  equally  dear  in  his  sight — and  with  Him  there  is  no 
partiality  on  account  of  earthly  advantages.  Those  who  have 
the  fewest  advantages  and  have  made  the  best  use  of  them, 
may  still  say,  we  are  unprofitable  servants  ;  and  those  who 
have  made  an  improper  use,  deserve  to  be  cast  down  as  a 
punishment  for  their  misimprovement. 

O,  Reader,  thou  wilt  be  strangely  surprised,  on  enter- 
ing the  invisible  world,  to  see  how  the  comparative  conditions 
of  men  are  altered  from  what  they  now  are.  Many  a  Laza- 
rus ;  many  afflicted,  distressed  ones  ;  many  who  were  friend- 
less upon  earth  ;  who  were  despised  and  communed  only  with 
God  and  Christ  ;  who  wished  to  retire  from  the  show  and 
temptation  of  the  world,  lest  they  should  be  ensnared  ;  whose 
pleasures  were  in  reading  the  word  of  God,  and  in  their 
closets,  and  in  administering  to  the  necessities  of  those  who 
were  poor  and  unobserved  in  life  like  themselves  ;  many  such 
thou  wilt  find  in  the  place  of  angels  —  in  the  company  of 
Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob.  How  many  such  thou  wilt  find 
purified  by  the  blood  of  Christ  and  sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  so 


i774-i8i6.]       STRONG  AS   PREACHER   AND  WRITER.  347 

as  to  be  without  spot  or  stain  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord ! 
His  servants,  his  messengers,  his  ministers  and  his  honored 
ones  in  the  kingdom  of  glory!  On  earth  they  received  evil 
things,  but  in  heaven  they  are  comforted — they  have  become 
kings  and  priests  unto  the  Lord,  and  pillars  in  his  everlasting 
temple!  Such  will  be  the  fruit  of  the  redeeming  blood  of 
Jesus,  and  he  will  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul  and  be  satis- 
fied with  the  glory  that  is  given  to  the  members  of  his  spir- 
itual body.  The  higher  they  are  raised  from  the  low  and 
despised  condition  they  had  here  on  earth,  the  more  the 
riches,  the  fullness  and  the  sovereignty  of  his  grace  will  be 
forever  adored. 

As  some  will  be  thus  purified  and  confessed  and  exalted 
forever  in  the  presence  of  the  Father  and  before  his  holy 
angels  ;  so  how  awfully  will  many  sink  from  the  highest  ad- 
vantages of  earth  to  the  lowest  place  in  the  pains  of  eternity ! 
How  many  who  carried  with  them  a  great  breadth  of  influence 
in  the  concerns  of  this  life  ;  who  had  the  adjustment  of  other 
men's  properties  according  to  their  will,  their  prejudices 
and  their  own  selfish  designs ;  who  made  laws  for  their 
fellow-creatures  according  to  the  feelings  of  their  own  pas- 
sions, without  regard  to  mercy  and  equity  ;  who  judged  and 
executed  with  much  worldly  solemnity  and  importance,  but  not 
in  the  fear  of  the  Almighty,  and  with  hearts  of  compassion  ; 
who  were  filled  with  the  profusion  of  the  world  and  walked 
through  life  in  the  pride  of  self-consequence  and  in  the 
parade  which  gratifies  a  vain  heart;  who  in  these  circum- 
stances forgot  that  they  were  sinners,  were  made  of  the  same 
clay,  must  go  to  the  same  grave,  must  stand  on  the  same 
level  with  their  meaner  neighbors  before  the  glorious  bar  of 
God  ;  how  many  such,  from  every  land  and  from  every  age 
of  the  world,  will  say  :  '  Father  Abraham,  send  one  of  those 
who  are  now  in  thy  bosom,  that  he  may  dip  the  tip  of  his  fin- 
ger in  water  and  cool  my  tongue  ! '  "      Vol.  ii,  pp.  346-349. 

No  man  more  than  Dr.  Strong  contributed  to  the  revival  of 
earnest  piety  which  marked  so  extensively  the  close  of  the 
last  century  and  the  beginning  of  the  present  in  this  State, 


348  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1774-1816. 

But  Dr.  Strong's  energies  overflowed  the  bounds  of  his 
pulpit  and  parish  work,  and  found  other  channels  of  expres- 
sion. In  1796  he  published  an  elaborate  treatise  entitled 
The  Doctrine  of  Eternal  Misery  reconcilable  with  the  Infinite 
Benevolence  of  God.^'  This  was  occasioned  by  the  posthum- 
ous publication  of  a  volume  entitled  Calvinism  Improved,^^ 
written  by  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Huntington  of  Coventry,  the 
town  of  Dr.  Strong's  birth,  and  which  advocated  the  doctrine 
of  universal  salvation.  The  volume  of  Dr.  Strong,  intended 
primarily  as  a  reply  to  Dr.  Huntington's,  is  much  more  than 
that.  It  discusses  the  main  points  of  the  Calvinistic  system, 
and  is  the  most  extended  theological  endeavor  essayed  by 
him  ;  and  in  relation  to  the  special  object  the  author  had  in 
view,  ranks  among  the  ablest  treatises  extant  upon  the  pro- 
found and  awful  subject  with  which  it  deals. 

In  1799,  moved  by  the  impulse  of  desire  for  a  class  of 
hymns  better  adapted  to  the  "happy  revival  of  religion" 
which  characterized  the  period,  Dr.  Strong  published — in 
connection  with  Rev.  Abel  Flint  and  Rev.  Joseph  Steward, 
a  Deacon  of  .the  First  Church — a  hymn-book  known  as  The 


'3  "  The  Doctrine  of  Eternal  Misery  reconcilable  with  the  Infinite  Benevo- 
lence of  God,  and  a  Truth  plainly  asserted  in  the  Christian  Scriptures,  by  Na- 
than Strong,  Pastor  of  the  North  Presbyterian  Church  in  Hartford.  Hartford, 
Printed  by  Hudson  &  Goodwin,  1796."     8vo,  pp.  i-xii,  1-408. 

'■*  "Calvinism  Improved,  or  the  Gospel  illustrated  as  a  System  of  Real  Grace 
issuing  in  the  Salvation  of  all  Men,"  1796. 

This  volume  of  Dr.  Huntington  took  the  world  of  his  day  with  surprise  as  he 
was  not  known  to  cherish  the  sentiments  inculcated  in  it.  Much  the  greater  part 
of  the  edition  is  said  to  have  been  burned  by  one  of  his  daughters.  The  gen- 
eral position  of  the  writer  is  that  the  Atonement  of  Christ  is  commensurate, 
not  only  in  its  design,  but  in  its  actual  practical  efficiency,  with  the  sins  of  all 
men.  Dr.  Joseph  Huntington  was  born  in  Windham  in  1735;  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1762;  ordained  at  the  First  Church  in  Coventry,  June  29, 
1763;  died  Dec.  25,  1794.  One  of  Dr.  Huntington's  daughters  was  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin.  One  of  his  sons,  Samuel,  was  Chief  Justice  and  Gov- 
ernor of  Ohio,  and  died  in  1817. 


i774-i8i6.]       STRONG   AS   PREACHER   AND  WRITER.  340 

Hartford  Selection  of  Hymns. ^^  The  book  attained  a  wide 
circulation  and  passed  through  many  editions.  Presumably 
it  must  have  been  used  in  Dr.  Strong's  own  congregation  ; 
but  it  is  in  evidence  that  as  early  as  18 12  the  compilation 
made  at  the  request  of  the  General  Association  of  Connecti- 
cut by  President  Dwight,  in  1800,  was  employed  in  this 
Society.  Of  the  Hartford  Selection  however,  a  competent 
witness  declares  in  1833,  "It  has  been  printed  in  greater 
numbers,  has  been  diffused  more  extensively,  and  has  im- 
parted more  alarm  to  the  sinner,  and  more  consolation  to  the 
saint,  than  any  other  compilation  of  religious  odes  in  this 
country,  during  a  period  of  nearly  thirty  years."  '' 

Still  more  important  to  this  Church's  welfare  and  to  the 
welfare  of  the  churches  generally,  was  Dr.  Strong's  agency 
in  behalf  of  Missions.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Hartford  North 
Association  at  Farmington,  Oct.  3,  1797,  the  ministers 
present ''  voted  as  follows  : 


'5  "  The  Hartford  Selection  of  Hymns.  From  the  most  approved  authors. 
To  which  are  added  a  number  never  before  published.  Compiled  by  Nathan 
Strong,  Abel  Flint,  and  Joseph  Steward.  Hartford :  Printed  by  John  Babcock, 
1799."     The  eighth  edition  was  published  in  1821. 

i«  Rev.  Luther  Hart  in  Quarterly  spectator,  Sept.,  1833,  pp.  344-345.  The 
Hartford  Selection  contained  several  of  Dr.  Strong's  own  hymns,  among  which 
the  one  hundred  and  seventieth  was  pronounced  by  the  writer  last  quoted  "one 
of  the  most  interesting  metrical  compositions  in  our  language ; "  a  judgment 
with  which  even  an  ardent  admirer  of  Dr.  Strong's  abilities  may  be  pardoned 
if  he  cannot  agree.     Two  stanzas  must  suffice : 

"Sinner  behold  I've  heard  thy  groan, 
I  know  thy  heart,  thy  life  I've  known : 
I've  seen  thy  hope  from  grace  proclaim'd. 
Thy  trembling  fear  when  Sinai  flam'd. 

To  me  the  mighty  God  attend. 
In  me  behold  the  sinner's  friend ; 
'Twas  I  who  gave  thy  conscience  voice. 
Thou  hast  oppos'd  by  sinful  choice." 

'■^  Nathan  Strong,  Aaron  Church,  Rufus  Hawley,  Seth  Sage,  Nathan  Perkins, 
Abel  Flint,  Wm.  F.  Miller,  Whitefield  Cowles,  Isaac  Porter,  and  Joseph  Wash- 
burn. 


350  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    EIARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

"  We  resolve  ourselves  into  a  Missionary  Society  for  the 
purpose  of  collecting  funds  from  the  pious  and  benevolently 
disposed,  to  support  missionaries  who  may  carry  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation  among  our  brethren  in  the  borders  of  the 
wilderness.  An  ardent  wish  to  diffuse  the  knowledge  of 
Christian  doctrines  and  Christian  morals  as  far  as  may  be  in 
our  power,  impels  us  to  adopt  this  as  a  temporary  expedient, 
till  some  more  general  plan  may  be  formed,  either  by  the 
general  Association  or  in  some  other  way.  One  inducement 
besides  the  general  desire  to  advance  the  cause  of  our  divine 
Redeemer  and  the  present  aspect  of  Providence  in  Zion,  is 
that  we  have  a  missionary  "  now  in  the  Western  settlements, 
acting  under  our  direction  for  whose  support  competent 
funds  are  not  provided.  We  hold  ourselves  ready  to  coalesce 
with  a  more  general  society  for  Missions,  whenever  any  shall 
be  formed  in  this  State." 

By  the  next  October,  1798,  the  General  Association  hav- 
ing organized  the  Missionary  Society  of  Connecticut,  the 
Hartford  North  Association  voted  to  "  cease  to  continue  as 
a  missionary  society  and  joyfully  join  the  general  society." 

Dr.  Strong  had  been  one  of  the  committee  of  the  General 
Association  to  draft  its  Constitution,  and  was  one  of  its 
Directors,  and  a  life-long  supporter  of  its  work. 

It  was  largely  his  interest  in  this  Society  and  the  Missions 
supported  by  it,  that  induced  him  to  project  and  largely  to 
edit  the  Connecticut  Evangelical  Magazine.  Rev.  Luther 
Hart,  who  was  in  a  position  to  know  the  facts  in  the  case, 
says  : '" 

"  The  plan  of  this  work  originated  with  Dr.  Strong,  and 
the  labor  of  conducting  it  devolved  chiefly  on  him.  It  was 
continued  fifteen  years,  and  amounted  to  as  many  volumes. 


1"  Probably  Rev.  Seth  Williston,  who  had  been  ordained  by  the  Association, 
June  6,  1797,  "to  the  work  of  the  evangelical  ministry  at  large  ....  in  order 
tha':  he  might  be  more  extensively  useful  in  the  new  settlements." 

'3  Quarterly  Spectator,  Sept.,  1833,  pp.  345-347. 


i774-i8i6.]  MISSIONARY   AFFAIRS.  351 

During  the  first  seven  years  some  ten  or  twelve  of  the  prin- 
cipal divines  in  different  parts  of  the  State  were  associated 
with  him  in  the  editorial  department ;  but  the  duty  of  pro- 
curing and  revising  the  matter  to  be  inserted  was  performed 
principally  by  himself.  After  the  commencement  of  the 
new  series,  which,  though  the  same  work  still,  was  called 
"  the  Evangelical  Magazine  and  Religious  Intelligencer,"  and 
extended  to  eight  volumes,  he  had  no  regular  editorial  assist- 
ance, except  during  the  last  three  years The  number 

of  copies  printed  during  the  first  five  years  averaged  3,730 
annually.  All  the  net  proceeds  of  the  magazine  were 
sacredly  devoted  to  the  permanent  fund  of  the  Connecticut 
Missionary  Society.  In  six  years  there  had  been  paid  into 
the  Treasury  ^7,353.  And  although  the  number  of  subscrib- 
ers constantly  diminished  from  the  year  1806,  yet  the  total 
avails  paid  over  to  the  Society  amounted  to  11,520  dollars." 

Under  the  impulse  of  this  powerful  ministry,  attended  as 
it  was  by  large  accessions  to  the  membership  of  the  Church, 
this  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  felt  moved,  in  1802,  to  sub- 
scribe toward  a  permanent  "  Fund  for  Parochial  uses,"  on 
the  following  conditions  : 

"  First,  the  sum  of  Fifteen  Hundred  dollars  at  least  to  be 
raised  by  gratuitous  subscriptions  and  added  to  the  present 
Society  Fund. 

"  Second,  the  Fund,  principal  and  interest  as  it  accrues,  to 
be  placed  from  time  to  time  on  Loan  without  any  part  being 
expended  till  it  amounts  to  Seven  Thousand  Dollars  ;  that 
sum  to  be  afterwards  kept  entire  as  a  Society  Fund,  the 
interest  thereof  to  be  appropriated  and  applied  for  the  Sup- 
port of  the  Ministry  in  the  Society." 

The  subscription  prospered.  Forty-seven  hundred  and 
nine  dollars  were  pledged,  and  the  Society  voted  that  "  the 
names  of  the  subscribers  and  the  sums  respectively  annexed, 
be  recorded  at  length  in  the  records  of  the  Society."  ^^     This 


See  Appendix  XI. 


352  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

fund  met  with  the  not  unusual  fate  of  funds  when  a  Society 
gets  short  of  money  and  most  of  the  donors  are  dead,  as 
there  will  be  occasion  hereafter  to  see. 

Encouraged  by  success  in  establishing  the  fund  for  the 
support  of  the  ministry,  the  Society  set  about  the  undertak- 
ing of  a  new  meeting-house.  The  old  house,  dedicated  in 
1739,  had  become  scanty  and  dilapidated.  A  committee 
appointed  to  consider  the  subject,  Dec.  11,  1804,  reported, 
March  22,  1805,  and  the  Society  voted  at  that  date — 

"  That  a  new  Meeting-House  be  built  for  this  Society  at 
such  place  as  the  County  Court  shall  affix,  on  or  near  the 
ground  on  which  the  present  meeting-house  stands,  provided 
the  moneys  for  building  the  same  can  be  raised  by  donation 
and  by  the  sale  of  Pews  and  Slips,  and  that  George  Goodwin, 
Abram  Cook,  Richard  Goodman,  Peter  W.  Gallaudet  & 
James  Hosmer,  be  a  Committee  to  build  said  meeting  house: 
that  the  dimensions  thereof  including  the  Projection  for  the 
Steeple  or  Tower,  be  one  hundred  and  two  feet  by  sixty-four 
feet :  that  the  walls  be  of  Brick  and  the  Roof  covered  with 
Slate  ....  But  said  Committee  are  instructed  not  to  dispose 
of  the  present  meeting-house  nor  proceed  to  build  such  new 
Meeting-House,  until  they  have  raised  by  donation  and  sale 
of  Pews  and  Slips  a  sum  sufficient  to  build  such  meeting 
house." 

Thus  charged  with  their  duty,  the  Committee  set  about 
the  work.  They  had  Mr.  P.  W.  Gallaudet  as  their  Treasurer 
and  Accountant,  and  opened  a  subscription,  which  reached 
;^  1 7,302. 13.  These  subscriptions  were  to  reckon  against  the 
price  of  pews  when  pews  came  to  be  sold.  The  Committee 
sold  the  old  meeting-house  to  John  Leffingwell,  on  Dec.  2, 
1805,  for  three  hundred  and  five  dollars,  "  all  the  brick  and 
stone.  Bell  and  rope,  and  Clock  and  clock-weights  excepted,^' 


2'  The  bell  and  clock  were  temporarily  placed  in  the  tower  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 


i774-i8i6.]  NEW   MEETING-HOUSE.  353 

.  .  the  new  timber  put  in  to  secure  the  building  also 
excepted ; "  and  the  destruction  of  the  old  house  at  once 
began."  Contracts  for  brick  and  stone  and  timber  and  other 
building  material  were  made  in  the  fall  and  winter,  and 
Thursday,  March  6,  1806,  the  stone  work  of  the  foundation 
of  the  new  house  was  begun. 

The  enlarged  size  and  the  partially  altered  position  of  the 
new  structure  demanded  a  grant  from  the  town  of  a  part  of 
the  burying-ground ;  which  was  secured  by  an  exchange  of 
deeds  conveying  to  the  town  a  part  of  the  ground  formerly 
covered  by  the  previous  edifice."  That  edifice  had  undoubt- 
edly been  built  over  some  of  the  graves  in  the  old  burying- 
ground  purchased  by  the  town  in  1640,  and  more  were 
covered  by  the  new  structure,  necessitating  the  removal  of 
some  monuments. ^^ 

The  work  progressed  with  vigor,  and  with  some  alcoholic 
aid  '"  after  the  fashion  of  the  times,  and  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber, 1807,  saw  the   congregation  ready  to  remove  from  the 


-■^  At  the  Celebration  Exercises  of  the  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
the  Church,  Dea.  Rowland  Swift  said  (referring  to  Mr.  Edward  Goodwin  and 
this  destruction  of  the  old  meeting-house) :  "  There  is  one  of  our  present  con- 
gregation who  remembers  some  incidents  of  that  occasion — now  almost  four 
score  years  past.  The  leave-taking  of  the  old  pew,  fixed  in  his  child-memory 
by  the  sober  and  reluctant  manner  of  those  who  led  him  home  from  the  last 
service  there;  the  rescue  of  the  little  old  foot-rest  or  cricket  which  for  preserva- 
tion he  brought  away  in  his  arms — a  rather  burthensome  trophy  to  the  tiny  boy; 
the  fall  of  the  steeple  on  the  following  day ;  the  suspense  that  awed  him  so 
when  the  long  ropes  were  manned  and  while  they  straightened  with  the  strong 
and  steady  pull ;  the  strange  and  startling  shimmer  of  light  upon  the  old  weather- 
cock which  swayed  crazily  once  or  twice  as  the  shout  of  them  that  triumphed 
arose,  and  then  pitched  forward  and  zig-zag  on  its  flight  to  the  further  side  of 
the  street."  Mr.  Goodwin  attended  the  exercises  of  the  celebration  on  Oct.  1 1 
and  12,  1883;  but  died  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month. 

2^  Town  Records,  vol.  xxii,  pp.  359-362. 

2*  The  graves  must  have  come  well  out  toward  the  present  Main  Street.  In 
excavating  in  18S3  to  admit  water  to  the  motor  of  the  organ,  human  remains 
were  found  opposite  the  southeast  corner  of  the  edifice,  near  the  portico. 

^^The  payments  for  liquor  amount  to  about  $150. 
45 


354  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

theatre  in  Theatre  Street  (now  Temple),  where  they  had 
worshiped  in  the  interim  between  the  two  meeting-houses ; 
and  on  the  3d  of  December  the  house  was  dedicated.  A 
contemporaneous  account  of  the  event  says  :  '^^ 

"  On  Thursday  last  the  New  Meeting-House  in  the  North 
Society  in  this  city  was  dedicated.  The  beauty  of  the  day, 
the  Novelty  of  the  occasion  and  the  celebrity  of  the  preacher 
attracted  a  great    concourse  of  people  from    this  and   the 

neighboring  towns Several  hymns  composed  for  the 

occasion  were  sung,  and  followed  by  an  Anthem  of  Handels. 
The  singing,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Roberts,  animated 
the  Christian  and  delighted  those  who  are  charmed  with  the 
melody  of  sounds." 

Rev.  Mr.  Flint,  of  the  Second  Church,  offered  the  Intro- 
ductory Prayer  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Perkins,  of  West  Hartford,  the 
Concluding  Prayer  ;  Dr.  Strong  made  the  Prayer  of  Dedi- 
cation, and  preached  the  Sermon  from  Ps.  xciii,  5  :  Holiness 
becometJi  thine  house,  O  Lord,  forever.  The  sermon  was 
published." 

The  house  thus  completed  and  dedicated  had  square  pews 
round  the  walls,  both  on  the  floor  and  in  the  galleries ;  slips 
in  the  centre  of  the  house  below,  and  in  front  of  the  galleries 
above.  Two  pews  below,  one  on  either  side,  were  furnished 
with  ornamental  canopies,  and  dignified  as  the  "  Governor's 
Pews,"  the  canopies  remaining  until  1831.  The  pulpit,  the 
height  of  which  is  said  to  have  been  determined  by  Dr. 
Strong,  was  supported  by  fluted  columns,  and  ascended  by 
spiral  stairs. 

A  very  handsome  pulpit  Bible  with  heavy  gold  clasps  and 
corners  was  presented  to  the  Society  in  April   18 12,  by  Mr. 


^•^  Connecticut  Courant,  Dec.  g,  1807. 

*7 "  A  Sermon  delivered  at  the  Consecration  of  the  New  Brick  Meeting 
House  in  Hartford,  December  3,  1807,  by  Nathan  Strong.  Hartford :  Printed 
by  Hudson  and  Goodwin,  1808." 


i774-i8i6.]  NEW   MEETING-HOUSE.  355 

Reuben  Smith — Dr.  Strong's  brother-in-law  and  former 
business  partner — in  memory  of  Dr.  Solomon  Smith,  once 
Deacon  of  this  Church,  This  Bible  has  been  ever  since  in 
use.  Some  vandal  stole  the  gold  corners  and  clasps,  and 
silver  ones  were  substituted.  But  these,  too,  were  removed, 
because  too  bulky." 

No  artificial  warmth,  save  the  traditional  "  foot-stoves  "  of 
our  New  England  grandmothers,  tempered  the  rigor  of  the 
winter  services  until  181 5,  when  stoves  were  authorized  by 
vote  of  the  Society. 

The  responsibility  and  expenses  of  the  new  meeting-house 
were  laid  on  the  building  committee,  aided  by  the  sales  and 
rentals  of  pews  to  members  of  the  congregation.  The  dis- 
posal of  the  sittings  had  been  as  satisfactory  as  could  have 
been  anticipated,"''  but  the  cost  of  the  building,  $32,014.26, 
exceeded  the  amount  realized  from  the  sales  by  about  $4,291. 
The  committee  had  for  their  security  certain  unsold  pews 
and  slips  on  the  floor  and  in  the  gallery,  from  the  rental  of 
which  they  offset,  as  far  as  they  could,  their  debt  to  the  Hart- 
ford Bank  and  to  individuals.  The  amount  of  their  deficiency 
was  gradually  decreased  by  additional  sales ;  but  though  the 
personal  claims  of  the  committee  for  services  were  adjusted 
in  18 12,  their  chief  obligation  to  the  bank,  though  often  dis- 
cussed, was  rather  ungenerously  postponed  till  December 
181 5,  when  the  Society  voted  to  "assume  the  debt  of  $2,000 


^^  Mr.  Charles  Seymour  recalls  the  fact  of  seeing  written  on  the  gallery  wall 
of  the  naeeting-house,  this  inscription:  "John  Ellsworth,  debtor  io  the  First 
Ecclesiastical  Society  for  gold  corners  and  clasps  of  Pulpit  Bible,  $100;" 
which  inscription  not  obscurely  intimated  that  the  then  acting  Sexton  of  the 
church  was  not  altogether  unaware  where  the  Bible  fastenings  and  ornaments 
went  to, 

29  See  Appendix  XII  for  statement  of  sales  and  rentals  to  March  27,  1809, 
with  ground  plan  of  the  church  edifice,  copied  from  a  parchment  one,  of  ap- 
parently contemporaneous  date. 


356  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

at  the  Hartford  Bank,"  on  condition  of  receiving  a  surrender 
from  the  committee  of  the  sHps  and  pews  standing  in  their 
names.'" 

Entered  into  its  new  house  of  worship,  which  was  regarded 
as  a  rather  splendid  specimen  of  ecclesiastical  architecture — 
and  so  described  by  President  Dwight  in  his  Travels  " — the 
Church  was  still  graciously  favored  with  Divine  influences. 

In  1808,  and  again  shortly  before  Dr.  Strong's  death,  from 
1813  to  1815,  powerful  awakenings  in  his  congregation  bore 
witness  to  the  efficacy  of  the  truth  so  cogently  and  persua- 
sively preached  by  him.  Eighty-eight  persons  united  with 
the  Church  in  1808,  the  year  after  entering  into  the  new  meet- 
ing-house ;  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  joined  as  the 
result  of  the  revival  of  18 13-14.  It  is  pleasant  to  know, 
especially  in  view  of  Dr.  Strong's  age  at  this  last-mentioned 
period,  that  the  subjects  of  the  awakening  at  that  time  were 
mostly  quite  young  people,  and  some  of  them  children,  and 
that  Dr.  Strong  confided  in  the  reality  of  their  Christian 
experience,  and  advocated  their  admission  to  the  Church 
against  the  objections  of  some  of  the  members,  who  were 
unused  to  so  youthful  candidates. 

These  revival  meetings  of  the  early  part  of  the  century, 
seemed  to  demand  a  form  of  religious  services  and  a  place 
of  religious  gathering,  such  as  the  Sunday  or  occasional 
week  day  evening  services  in  the  somewhat  stately  church- 
edifice,  lately  occasionally  opened,  could  not  supply. 

Evening  meetings  at  private  houses  were  first  resorted  to, 
with  some  suspicion  and  objection  on  the  part  of  some  con- 
servative people,  but  these  did  not  supply  the  rising  need. 


^^  Some  account  of  the  subsequent  sale  of  a  part   of  these  seats  may  be 
found  in  the  latter  portion  of  Appendix  XII. 
^*  Vol.  i,  pp.  235-6. 


i774-i8i6.]  THE   CONFERENCE   HOUSE.  357 

Individuals  undertook  what  the  Society  at  this  time  would 
hardly  have  agreed  upon.  Mr.  Colton — shortly  after  Deacon 
Colton — offered  the  corner  of  his  lot,  a  little  back  from  Tem- 
ple Street,  for  a  Conference  building.  A  memorandum  of 
agreement  about  laying  the  foundations,  dated  June  20,  181 3, 
remains;  endorsed  March  22,  18 14,  by  a  certification  over 
the  hands  of  Josiah  Beckwith,  David  Knox,  and  Andrew 
Kingsbury,  that  "  the  Conference  meeting  House  was  built 
conformable  to  the  above  agreement."  The  edifice  was  form- 
ally transferred  to  the  Society  in  1815.  But  doubtless  from 
some  time  in  early  18 14,  the  social  meetings  of  the  revival 
epoch  used  to  be  held  there.  And  the  place  was  then,  and 
in  the  days  of  a  minister  to  come  after  Dr.  Strong,  a  memo- 
rable one  for  the  souls  spiritually  "  born  there."  The  old 
building,  turned  to  servile  uses  and  forgotten  by  the  present 
generation,  still  stands,  though  somewhat  changed  in  shape 
and  built  about  by  other  structures. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  the  perishing,  or  more 
probably  the  non-creation  of  any  Church  records — except  a 
few  memoranda  by  Mr.  Barzillai  Hudson,  long  a  member  of 
the  Prudential  Committee — during  the  entire  period  of  Dr. 
Strong's  ministry,  makes  it  impossible  to  trace  precisely  who 
they  were,  or  in  what  numbers,  who  united  with  the  Church 
at  any  epoch  of  this  pastorate  previous  to  1808.  Especially 
to  be  regretted  is  it,  that  it  is  impossible  accurately  to  dis- 
cover the  working  of  the  revival  spirit  upon  the  half-way- 
covenant  system  in  this  Church  which  had  practiced  it  so 
long. 

It  is  doubtful  if  that  system  was  ever  distinctly  abrogated 
in  Dr.  Strong's  day.  The  late  Thomas  S.  Williams  and  wife 
both  owned  the  covenant,  it  is  believed  in  his  time,  and  only 


358  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN   HARTFORD.        [1774-1816. 

made  such  a  profession  as  brought  them  into  the  Church's 
full  communion  in  1834,  in  the  days  of  his  successor. 

Throughout  most  of  this  pastorate  the  Church  was  popu- 
larly known  as  Presbyterian.  The  Pastor  called  himself,  as 
has  been  observed  on  the  title  pages  of  his  published  ser- 
mons, "  Pastor  of  the  North  Presbyterian  Church."  Presby- 
terians in  the  Middle  States  and  Connecticut  Congregation- 
alists  had  been  drawn  together  ever  since  1766'"'  by  their 
common  opposition  to  the  establishment  of  the  Episcopate ; 
and  this  union  of  feeling  had  been  strengthened  by  the  events 
of  the  war,  and  the  Tory  attitude  of  the  Episcopal  churches. 
The  Presbyterian  Assembly  and  the  Connecticut  Associa- 
tion exchanged  delegates ;  members  passed  freely  from  one 
fellowship  to  the  other  at  a  period  when  the  North  Associa- 
tion in  Hartford  could  "unanimously"  resolve"'  that  it  was 
"  not  consistent  to  dismiss  and  recommend  the  members  of 
our  churches  to  the  Methodists;"  and  in  the  mind  of  the 
general  public,  and  even  in  that  of  most  of  the  ministers, 
there  was  no  difference  between  Congregationalism  and 
Presbyterianisra. 

This  idea  found  official  utterance  in  the  action  of  Hartford 
North  Association,  February  5,  1799:  — 

"  This  Association  gives  information  to  all  whom  it  may 
concern,  that  the  Constitution  of  the  Churches  in  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  founded  on  the  common  usage,  and  the  con- 
fession of  faith,  heads  of  agreement,  and  articles  of  church 
discipline,  adopted  at  the  earliest  period  of  the  Settlement  of 
this  State,  is  not  Congregational,  but  contains  the  essentials 
of  the  church  of  Scotland,  or  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amer- 
ica, particularly,  as  it  gives  a  decisive  power  to  Ecclesias- 
tical Councils ;    and  a  Consociation  consisting  of   Ministers 


8^  See  ante,  p.  324. 

33  Oct.  17,  1800.     MSS.  records. 


i774-i8i6.]  "NORTH   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH."  359 

and  Messengers  or  a  lay  representation  from  the  churches  is 
possessed  of  substantially  the  same  authority  as  a  Presbytery. 
The  judgements,  decisions  and  censures  in  our  Churches  and 
in  the  Presbyterian  are  mutually  deemed  valid.  The  Churches 
therefore,  of  Connecticut  at  large  and  in  our  districts  in  par- 
ticular, are  not  now  and  never  were  from  the  earliest  period 
of  our  settlement,  Congregational  Churches,  according  to  the 
ideas  and  forms  of  Church  order  contained  in  the  book  of 
discipline  called  the  Cambridge  Platform  ;  there  are,  how- 
ever, Scattered  over  the  State,  perhaps  ten  or  twelve 
Churches  which  are  properly  called  Congregational,  agreeable 
to  the  rules  of  Church  discipline  in  the  book  above  men- 
tioned. Sometimes  indeed  the  associated  churches  of  Con- 
necticut are  loosely  and  vaguely,  tho  improperly,  termed 
Congregational."  " 

When  fifteen  ministers' in  an  Association  like  Hartford 
North,  present  at  this  action,  could  so  misstate  history  and 
forget  the  principles  of  the  first  founders,  one  ceases  to  won- 
der that  the  people  generally  were  not  disturbed  at  being 
called  Presbyterians,  or  set  a  wondering  when  their  Pastors 
put  on  the  title  pages  of  their  publications,  "  Pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  "  of  Hartford  or  Windsor.  One  may 
wonder,  however,  what  Thomas  Hooker  would  have  said  to 
this  implication  of  his  successor,  that  Presbyterianism  was 
the  form  of  polity  he  came  to  this  new  country  to  plant ;  and 
to  this  amazing  statement  that  the  Constitution  founded  on 
the  "heads  of  agreement  and  articles  of  church  discipline" 
was  adopted  "at  the  earliest  period  of  the  Settlement  of  the 
State."  Whatever  the  merits  or  demerits  of  the  Saybrook 
system,  such  a  declaration  of  its  antiquity  takes  one  with 
surprise. 

One  characteristic  of  Dr.  Strong,  by  which  he  was  emi- 
nently distinguished,  cannot  be  passed  over  unspoken  of — his 


'^*  MSS.  Records. 


360  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

wit.  Dr.  Strong's  pulpit  exercises  were  invariably  marked 
by  great  solemnity  and  reverence.  His  many  printed  efforts 
contain  no  indication  of  humor.  But  in  social  intercourse  he 
was  a  man  of  boundless  pleasantry.  One  of  the  most  admir- 
ing of  his  eulogists  says  of  him:  "It  was  difficult  for  him  to 
subdue  his  almost  irresistible  propensity  to  disburthen  his 
prolific  imagination  of  the  ideas,  whether  delicate  or  gro- 
tesque, which  rushed  upon  him  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning. 
After  leading  in  prayer  in  the  presence  of  the  Legislature  of 
the  State,  or  the  Municipal  Courts,  and  bringing  tears  from 
many  an  eye  by  the  solemnity  and  fervor  of  his  manner,  it 
was  well  if  in  his  way  out  of  the  house,  he  did  not  by  some 
sally  of  wit,  either  ludicrous  or  severe,  occasion  a  burst  of 
laughter  on  every  side."  '"  The  old  and  often  applied  remark, 
"When  he  is  in  the  pulpit  he  ought  never  to  come  out, 
and  when  he  is  out  he  never  ought  to  go  in,"  was  frequently 
made  respecting  him.  Two  or  three  of  the  stories,  out  of 
many  lodged  in  the  minds  of  the  older  inhabitants  of  Hart- 
ford, may  here  be  recorded. 

Shortly  after  Dr.  Strong's  reception  of  his  Doctorate  de- 
gree from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1801,  he  met  Rev. 
Mr.  Flint  of  the  Second  Church.  Mr.  Flint  espying  him 
from  quite  a  distance,  took  off  his  hat  and  with  considerable 
demonstration  of  reverence  said  "  Good  morning.  Doctor 
Strong."  Dr.  Strong  responded,  a  little  embarrassed,  "  Why 
yes,  brother  Flint,  the  New  Jersey  College  seems  to  have 
done  a  rather  foolish  thing."  "  O  never  mind  it,"  said  Mr. 
Flint,  "  I  observe  they  make  Doctors  of  almost  everything 
now-a-days."  "Of  everything  but  F/iut-stonQs,"  was  Dr. 
Strong's  rejoinder. 

Hon.  David  Daggett  was  attending  Court  in  Hartford,  and 


Rev.  Luther  Hart,  Quarterly  Spectator,  Sept.  1833. 


i774-i8i6.]  CHARACTERISTICS   OF   STRONG.  361 

going  one  Saturday  afternoon  into  Hudson  and  Goodwin's 
book-store,  found  Dr.  Strong  there.  "  Well,  Doctor,"  he  said, 
"  I  think  I  shall  go  over  to  East  Hartford  and  hear  Mr.  Yates 
to-morrow  ;  we  can't  expect  much  from  you,  away  from  your 
study  on  Saturday  afternoon."  "  Do,  Sir,  do,"  was  Dr. 
Strong's  reply.  "  I  am  going  to  preach  to  Christians  to- 
morrow." 

Dr.  Bellamy,  the  very  distinguished  but  somewhat  pompous 
divine  of  Bethlem,  and  very  much  Dr.  Strong's  senior  in 
years,  called  upon  him  in  Hartford.  On  the  Pastor's  appear- 
ing in  answer  to  the  knock,  Dr.  Bellamy,  glancing  into  the 
apartment,  said,  "Ah,  here  you  are,  brother  Strong,  all  swept 
and  garnished."  "Yes,  yes,"  replied  Strong,  "quite  ready 
for  evil  spirits  to  enter ;  walk  in  Dr.  Bellamy." 

Col.  Dyer  of  Windham,  who  had  been  Judge  for  some 
years,  had  been  dropped  from  ofifice  by  the  legislature. 
Standing  in  the  lobby  with  several  other  out-of-ofifice  asso- 
ciates, he  accosted  Dr.  Strong  as  the  latter  came  out  from 
having  offered  prayer  at  the  opening  of  the  session,  "  Can't 
you  pray  for  us,  too,  Doctor  }  "  "  I  never  pray  for  the  dead," 
answered  Dr.  Strong. 

Dr.  Strong  on  one  occasion  had  a  callow  young  minister  to 

preach  for  him,  intending  that  he  should  do  so  both  parts  of 

the  day.     But  sitting  in  his  room  a  little  before  the  afternoon 

service,  he  saw  a  good  many  of  his  dissatisfied  congregation 

passing  by  his  house  on  their  way,  obviously,  to  the  Second 

Church.     The  annoyed  doctor  said  to  his  youthful  helper, 

"  My  dear  brother,  I  do  wish  Brother  Flint's  congregation 

could  hear  that  sermon  ,you  preached  for  my  people  to-day  ; 

and,  late  as  it  is,  I  think  it  can  be  done."     Despatching  a 

messenger  to  Dr.  Flint,  he  secured  a  prompt  invitation  for  a 
46 


362  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1774-1816. 

repetition  of  the  morning  discourse  to  the  South  congrega- 
tion ;  and  Dr.  Strong  conducted  his  own  service  with  an 
inward  enjoyment  of  having  paid  the  runaway  hearers  of  his 
flock  in  a  proper  coin. 

But  though  Dr.  Strong's  power  of  repartee  made  him  a 
formidable  opponent,  he  was  a  man  of  most  tender  sensibili- 
ties. When  his  boy's  body  was  brought  to  his  house  from 
the  river,  late  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  his  son 
was  drowned,  the  bereaved  father  with  marvelous  self-com- 
mand met  the  crowd  gathered  about  his  door  and  made  them 
a  most  affecting  address.  But  his  friend.  Rev.  Thomas  Rob- 
bins,  says  he  "never  crossed  the  Connecticut  River  after  the 
event;"  and  that  "years  subsequently"  he  enquired  about 
the  bridge  and  causeway — which  had  been  built  soon  after 
his  son's  fatal  calamity — saying  to  Mr.  Robbins  that  "  he  had 
never  seen  them." 

On  the  approach  of  the  last  considerable  revival  in  his 
ministry,  Mr.  Robbins  says,  when  "he  became  satisfied  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  in  the  midst  of  his  congregation,  his 
mind  was  so  much  agitated  with  alternate  hopes  and  fears 
for  a  fortnight,  that  he  did  not — as  he  stated  to  a  friend — 
have  an  hour  of  uninterrupted  sleep  at  a  time." 

Dr.  Strong  was  a  man  of  great  but  rather  unmethodical 
industry.  He  rose  early,  and  always  had  some  pressing 
work  on  hand.  His  faculties  were  in  a  wonderful  degree  at 
command.  He  wrote  with  great  rapidity,  seldom  revising 
anything ;  somewhat  carelessly  as  to  style,  but  always  with 
vigor.  He  is  said,  even  in  his  last  four  or  five  years,  to  have 
preached  more  sermons  in  the  time,  than  any  other  minister 
in  the  State.'' 


3^  Besides  the  publications  which  have  been  spoken  of  in  the  foregoing  pages, 
Dr.  Strong   published  a  Sermon  at  the  execution  of  Richard  Doane,  June  10, 


i774-i8i6.]  STRONG'S   DECLINE   AND   DEATH.  363 

But  the  time  for  the  termination  of  this  splendid  pastorate 
drew  on.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  held  April  17,  1816 
— "opened  with  a  devout  and  solemn  prayer  by  Revd.  Joseph 
Steward  " — the  Society's  committee  presented  a  letter  which 
they  had  on  the  loth  of  the  month  addressed  to  Dr.  Strong, 
suggesting  the  procuring  for  him  "an  assistant"  in  the  min- 
istry, and  Dr.  Strong's  reply  thereto.  Dr.  Strong's  answer 
is  dated  April  nth.     He  says: 

"It  was  with  pleasure  unfeigned  that  I  received  your  letter 

of  the   10th  on  the   subject  of  a   colleague    Pastor 

With  respect  to  bringing  the  object  proposed  into  execution 
I  would  suggest  the  following  things. 

"  I.  That  a  permanent  provision  be  made  for  the  wants 
of  my  old  age  and  the  decent  support  of  a  family  the  short 
time  I  can  live.  If  I  were  not  perfectly  poor  this  would  not 
be  the  first  article  mentioned." 

"  2.  I  should  wish  the  Colleague  to  be  the  presiding,  man- 
aging and  officiating  Pastor 

"  3.  With  respect  to  the  person  for  the  Colleague  I  wish 
to  excuse  myself  from  all  advice  and  agency 

"  Gentlemen,  I  thank  you  for  your  communication  to  me, 
and  unite  my  prayers  with  yours  for  the  blessing  of  God  on 
this  transaction." 


1797  ;  a  Fast  Sermon,  April  6,  1798  ;  2.Thanksgiving Serinon,  Nov.  29,  1798  ;  a 
Discourse  on  the  death  of  George  Washington,  delivered  Dec.  27,  1799;  a 
Thanksgiving  Sermon,  Nov.  27,  iSoo;  a  Sermon  at  the  Funeral  of  Rev.  fames 
Cogswell,  D.D.,  Jan.  6,  1807  ;  a  Sermon  before  the  Female  Benefice7it  Society, 
Oct.  4,  1809;  a  Sermon  on  the  Mutability  of  Human  Life,  March  10,  1811 ;  a 
Fast  Sermon,  July  23,  1812  ;  a  Sermon  on  the  use  of  Time,  Jan.  10,  1813  ;  a  Ser- 
tnon  at  the  Funeral  of  Hon.  Chauncey  Goodrich,  who  died  Aug.  18,  181 5;  and  a 
Sermon — the  last  published  in  his  lifetime — preached  Jan.  7,  1816,  the  year  he 
died.  The  text  is,  "  Whatsoever  thy  hand findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might,  for 
there  is  no  work,  7wr  device,  nor  kno7vledge,  nor  wisdom-  in  the  grave,  whither 
thou  goest."  Thirty-four  members  of  his  congregation  had  died  the  previous 
year. 

'^''  This  statement  of  Dr.  Strong  was  literally  accurate.  The  administrators 
of  his  estate  (he  left  no  will)  after  paying  a  few  debts  to  the  amount  of  about  a 
hundred  dollars,  returned  to  the  Court,  July  28,  1818,  the  valuation  of  the 
property  left  by  him,  as  $48.60. 


364  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1S16. 

Somehow  or  other  the  rumor  got  currency  that  this  action 
of  the  committee  was  unwelcome  to  Dr.  Strong,  and  on 
the  1 6th  of  April  they  addressed  him  a  second  letter,  men- 
tioning the  rumor  and  asking  a  frank  reply.  Dr.  Strong 
answered  the  next  day.     He  said  : 

"Gentlemen,  To  your-note  of  yesterday  I  cheerfully  reply. 
You  are  sensible  that  the  subject  under  consideration  did 
not  originate  from  any  influence  of  mine  either  directly  or 
indirectly ;  on  which  account  it  seems  more  necessary  I 
should  answer  you  explicitly.  I  have  heard  it  suggested  that 
I  rather  tacitly  submitted  than  heartily  approved  the  meas- 
ure. This  is  totally  a  misapprehension.  If  it  can  be  effected 
with  brotherly  love  it  will  give  me  great  satisfaction." 

The  Doctor  then  went  on  to  suggest  the  expediency  of 
going  about  the  undertaking  at  once,  while  their  pastor  was 
still  able  to  labor,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  "  the  state  of  a 
people  left  destitute  is  always  hazardous." 

The  Society  therefore,  on  April  24th,  voted  "that  the  sum 
of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  be  paid  annually  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Strong  during  his  life,"  and  "  that  the  Society  do 
proceed  to  take  suitable  measures  for  settling  a  Colleague 
with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Strong."  '' 


^^It  seems  the  more  needful  to  set  down  these  negotiations  with  Dr.  Strong 
in  some  detail,  because  the  idea  of  his  unwillingness  to  have  a  colleague  has 
become  a  sort  of  tradition,  owing  probably  to  an  alleged  anecdote  of  Dr. 
Strong  in  connection  with  the  matter.  A  late  number  of  the  A'^ew  Ejigland 
Historical  and  Genealogical  Register  (Oct.  1883)  repeats  this  tradition  of  Dr. 
Strong's  unwillingness  ;  and  of  his  reply  to  the  enquiry  who  he  would  recom- 
mend as  a  colleague,  "  Old  Mr.  Marsh  of  Wethersjield ;"  and  says,  "After  this 
Dr.  Strong  was  allowed  to  live  and  die  in  peace  as  sole  pastor  until  his  death." 
That  Dr.  Strong  made  such  a  reply  to  some  enquirer  is  altogether  likely ;  it 
was  in  his  characteristic  style.  It  was  all  the  more  amusing  because  Dr. 
Marsh  was  not  only  si.x  years  older  than  himself,  but  had  the  year  previous 
(181 5)  broken  down  in  health  and  required  assistance  for  his  own  pulpit.  Dr. 
Marsh  wore  a  white,  full-bottomed  wig,  said  to  be  the  last  worn  in  New  Eng- 
land. But  the  humor  of  Dr.  Strong's  joke,  does  not  need  the  misstatement  of 
the  facts  concerning  his  relations  to  his  parish  and  to  the  colleague  question. 


i774-iSi6.]  STRONG'S   DECLINE   AND   DEATH.  365 

Attempts  were  immediately  begun.  One  incidental  token 
of  the  impending  change  was  a  vote,  December  24,  18 16,  to 
"lower  the  pulpit"  whose  lofty  height,  fixed  it  is  said  by  Dr. 
Strong,  was  probably  objected  to  by  some  of  the  persons 
who  preached  from  it.  The  desired  colleague  however  had 
not  been  secured,  and  on  the  day  following  the  above  vote, 
December  25th,  the  Pastor  died,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of 
his  age  and  the  forty-third  of  his  ministry.  Dr.  Strong's 
health  had  been  precarious  for  some  time,  but  he  preached  in 
his  own  pulpit  twice  on  Sunday,  November  loth,  the  text  of 
the  morning  sermon  being  Hebrews  ix,  27 :  //  is  appointed 
to  men  once  to  die,  but  after  this  the  judgment ;  and  in  the 
afternoon  Philippians  i,  23-24:  For  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt 
two,  having  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Chi  ist,  which  is 
far  better.  Nevertheless,  to  abide  in  the  flesh  is  more  needful 
for  you.  Both  sermons  were,  some  years  subsequently, 
printed  in  the  Christian  Spectator.^'' 


^9  July,  1824,  and  Feb.,  1825.  While  these  pages  were  passing  through  the 
press  a  bundle  of  MSS.  notes  of  sermons,  preached  in  the  First  Church,  and 
reported  by  the  hand  of  Dea.  Aaron  Colton  for  about  sixty  years,  from  17S0  to 
1840,  came  into  the  Church's  possession  from  Rev.  President  Chapin  of  Beloit, 
grandson  of  the  deacon.  As  abstracts  of  the  sermons  themselves  they  are  ex- 
cessively meagre.  But  the  record  of  dates  is  in  many  cases  valuable  as  deter- 
mining matters  perhaps  otherwise  unascertainable.  In  this  particular  instance 
of  Dr.  Strong's  last  appearance  in  the  jjulpit,  Dea.  Colton's  notes  enable  us  to 
correct  the  statement  made  by  Dr.  Sprague  (Annals,  ii,  36),  that  "but  one  Sab- 
bath "  intervened  between  Dr.  Strong's  last  public  ministrations  and  his  death. 
Dea.  Colton's  notes  show  that  seven  Sabbaths  intervened,  during  which  time 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Revs.  Messrs.  Robbins,  Steward,  and  McEwen,  and 
by  Dr.  Perkins.  These  notes  show  also  several  periods  of  protracted  absence 
from  his  pulpit  by  Dr.  Strong,  e.g.,  the  greater  part  of  the  year  1781,  during 
most  of  which  time  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Mr.  Perry;  presumably 
Rev.  David  Perry  of  Harwinton,  whose  son,  Rev.  David  C.  Perry,  married 
Dr.  Strong's  daughter. 

These  notes  also  show  quite  clearly  that  there  prevailed  in  Dr.  Strong's  day, 
and  in  that  portion  of  Dr.  Hawes'  time,  also,  which  they  cover,  a  very  much 
more  frequent  habit  of  ministerial  exchange  in  pulpit  service,  than  exists  at 
present.  The  fraternity  of  the  churches  was  in  this  way  illustrated  to  a  degree 
which  would  astonish,  and  it  is  to  be  conjectured,  sometimes  irritate  a  modern 
congregation. 


366  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1774-1816. 

Funeral  services  were  held  in  the  church-edifice  where 
he  had  so  long  ministered.  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan  Perkins  of 
West  Hartford,  his  associate  in  the  ministry  of  Hartford 
County  from  the  first,  preached  the  sermon  on  the  occa- 
sion.'"' The  body  was  laid  in  the  North  burying-ground — 
being  the  first  of  the  Hartford  Pastors  to  be  laid  elsewhere 
than  in  the  old  burying-ground  behind  the  church-edifice — 
separating  him  thus  from  the  members  of  his  family,  who 
lie  in  the  old  soil.  A  monument  in  the  form  of  a  sarcopha- 
gus was  erected  over  his  burial-place,  by  the  people  of  his 
Society,"  bearing  the  following  inscription  : 

BENEATH    THIS    MONUMENT   ARE   DEPOSITED   THE   REMAINS    OF    THE 

REV.  NATHAN  STRONG,  D.D., 

Pastor  of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  in  Hartford. 

Endowed  with  rare  talent,  and  eminent  for  learfting  and  eloquence^  he 

zealously  devoted  hi7nself  to  the  cause  of  religion;  and  after 

many  years  of  faitJiful  service,  approved  and  blessed 

by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  fell  asleep  in  yestis, 

deeply  latnented  by  his  friends,  the 

people  of  his  charge,  and  the 

Church  of  Christ. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,  for  they  rest  from  their  labors. 


*°  "  A  Sermon  delivered  at  the  Interment  of  the  Rev.  Nathan  Strong,  D.D., 
Pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Hartford  :  who  died  Dec.  25, 1S16, 
aged  sixty-eight,  and  in  the  forty-third  year  of  his  ministry.  By  Nathan  Per- 
kins, D.D.,  Pastor  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  in  Hartford.  Published 
by  request.  The  just  shall  be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance.  Hartford, 
George  Goodwin  and  Sons,  Printers.  1817." 

*'  The  vote  to  erect  the  monument  to  Dr.  Strong  was  passed  at  Society 
meeting,  Dec.  22,  1817.  It  was  at  this  meeting  that  Mr.  Seth  Terry  (after- 
ward Dea.  Terry  of  the  Second  Church)  called  attention  to  the  neglected, 
inscriptionless  condition  of  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker's  grave  (see  ante,  p.  115,  note), 
and  secured  the  action  of  the  Society  for  the  uplifting  of  the  fallen  stone  and 
the  cutting  thereon  of  the  present  inscription. 


^ssmp^t^:"  '"■■■'- 


-'■'/;' by  WLOrmsby.^'' 


^/^c 


Ct-^^-^^^jc^^ 


CHAPTER     XIV. 


JOEL  HAWES  AND  HIS  DAYS. 

In  his  communication  to  the  Society  responding  to  the 
offer  of  a  colleague,  Dr.  Strong  had  excused  himself  "from 
all  advice  and  agency"  respecting  the  particular  person  to  be 
secured.  Nevertheless  the  committee  consulted  him  on  the 
matter,  and  two  persons  at  least  occupied  the  pulpit  on  the 
basis  of  his  "approbation  "  or  even  at  his  "recommendation." 
One  of  these  came  before  his  death — Mr.  Eleazer  T.  Fitch/ 
then  a  student  in  Andover  Seminary,  who  preached  how- 
ever but  a  single  Sunday,  Nov.  3,  18 16. 

The  other  was  Mr.  Ebenezer  Burgess,"  then  a  young  mathe- 
matical professor  at  the  college  in  Burlington,  Vermont. 
This  latter  gentleman,  of  whom  Dr.  Strong  "  had  a  high 
opinion,"  preached  on  seventeen  occasions  between  January 
31  and  March  9,  1817,^  occupying  the  pulpit  six  Sundays. 
Neither  of  these  gentlemen  however  was  called.  Nor  was 
Rev.   Heman    Humphrey,*   who   after   Dr.    Strong's   death, 


'  Rev.  Eleazer  Thompson  Fitch,  D.D.,  born  in  New  Haven,  Jan.  i,  1791 ; 
graduated,  Yale  College,  1810;  at  Andover  Seminary,  1817;  Pastor  of  the 
Church  in  Yale  College,  1817-1852  ;  Professor  of  Homiletics,  Yale  Divinity 
School,  1822-1861 ;  died  at  New  Haven,  Jan.  31,  1871,  aged  80. 

^  Rev.  Ebenezer  Burgess,  D.D.,  born  April  i,  1790,  Wareham,  Mass.;  gradu- 
ated. Brown  University,  1809;  Professor,  University  of  Vermont,  1815-1817  ; 
Pastor,  Dedham,  Mass.,  1821  till  death,  Dec.  5,  1870. 

^  Dea.  Colton's  Notes;  who  minutes  some  of  these  services  as  "  Thursday  eve- 
ning" or  "Conference  Room." 

*  Rev.  Heman  Humphrey,  D.D.,  born  in  Simsbury,  March  26,  1779;  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College,  1805;  ordained  at  Fairfield,  1807;  installed  at  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  1817;  President  of  Amherst  College,  1823-1845  ;  died  1861. 


368  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

preached  seven  Sabbaths,  beginning  June  i  and  ending 
July  15,  1817/ 

Meantime,  in  the  interregnum  between  the  decease  of  the 
old  Pastor  and  the  settlement  of  his  successor,  the  pulpit 
was  largely  supplied  by  Rev.  Joseph  Steward,"  a  Deacon  of 
the  Church. 

The  successful  candidate  appeared  at  last.  Sunday,  the 
28th  of  September  18 17,  saw  in  the  pulpit  of  this  Society 
for  the  first  time,  a  tall,  awkward  man  of  a  little  over  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age,  who  was  destined  to  fill  the  second  longest 
term  of  pastoral  service  in  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  of 
its  history.  A  member  of  this  Church,  now  deceased,  who 
well  knew  Dr.  Strong,  narrated  to  the  present  writer  his 
vivid  impressions  of  that  Sabbath,  and  the  sharp  contrast 
he  felt  between  the  courtly  and  dignified  bearing  of  the 
Pastor  of  his  youth,  and  the  ungainly,  impulsive,  redban- 
dannad  occupant  of  his  place.  But  he  truthfully  added  the 
reproof  administered  to  him  by  a  pious  old  aunt  to  whom  he 
ventured  to  suggest  some  of  his  feelings  :  "  Remember  my 
words,  that  is  to  be  a  very  remarkable  man."  ' 


^  The  honorarium  for  these  services  of  the  various  occupants  of  the  pulpit  at 
this  period,  as  appears  by  the  Treasurer's  account,  was  ten  dollars  a  Sunday, 
with  no  account  taken  of  Thursday  lectures.  The  "  candidates  "  were  boarded 
at  the  house  of  the  late  Pastor,  by  his  son  Nathan,  at  the  expense  of  the 
Society. 

^  Rev.  Joseph  Steward,  born  at  Upton,  Mass.,  Aug.  6,  1752;  graduated, 
Dartmouth  College;  studied  divinity  with  Dr.  Levi  Hart,  at  Preston,  Conn.; 
ordained  an  evangelist,  and  preached  extensively  in  New  England;  prevented 
by  ill-health  from  assuming  a  regular  pastorate;  fi.xed  his  residence  at  Hartford, 
and  learned  painting  under  the  instruction  of  Col.  John  Trumbull;  established 
a  "Museum"  at  Hartford;  was  chosen  Deacon  of  the  First  Church  in  1797; 
united  with  Drs.  Strong  and  Flint  in  the  compilation  of  the  Hartford  Selection 
of  Hymns;  died  at  Hartford,  April  15  1822,  greatly  respected  and  beloved  ; 
leaving  a  widow,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Mosely  of  Windham,  and 
two  (Sarah  M.  and  Ann  Jane)  and  perhaps  more  children.  A  Thanksgiving 
Sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Steward  in  the  pulpit  of  the  "First  Presbyterian 
Church"  of  Hartford,  Nov.  28,  1816,  just  before  Dr.  Strong's  death,  was  pub- 
lished. 

''  Harvey  Seymour. 


1818-1867.]  JOEL   HAWES.  369 

Joel  Hawes,  one  of  this  Church's  and  Connecticut's  most 
eminently  useful  ministers,  was  born  at  Medway,  Massachu- 
setts, December  22,  1789.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith  and 
a  farmer ;  a  man  of  tough,  vigorous  constitution,  who  lived 
to  the  age  of  eighty-three ;  his  mother  to  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven.  Neither  of  the  parents  was  a  professing  Christian, 
and  the  household  seems  to  have  been  trained  without 
religious  instruction.  Joel's  youth  was  passed  amid  associa- 
tions not  very  congenial  to  scholarly  tastes  or  even  favorable 
to  mental  improvement.  He  says  of  this  period  of  his  expe- 
rience, "The  first  years  of  my  life  were  thrown  away.  I 
was  a  wild,  hardy,  reckless  youth,  delighting  in  hunting,  fish- 
ing, trapping,  and  in  rough,  athletic  sports ;  all  tending  to 
invigorate  my  constitution,  but  adding  nothing  to  my  mental 
or  moral  improvement.     Early  instruction  I  had  none." 

It  was  at  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  while  engaged 
in  serving  a  period  in  a  cloth-dressing  establishment,  that  he 
experienced  his  first  strong  spiritual  impressions,  almost  for 
the  first  time  read  the  Bible,  and  became  experimentally  a 
Christian.  He  made  confession  of  his  faith  by  uniting  with 
the  church  in  Medway  the  first  Sunday  in  May  1808,  being 
at  that  time  also  baptized.  His  first  impulse  toward  an 
education  was  derived  from  the  suggestion  of  Miss  Betsey 
Prentiss,  a  sister  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dickinson  of  Holliston,  by 
whom  he  was  employed  in  manual  labor. 

Studying  awhile  in  private,  under  the  tuition  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Crane  of  Northbridge,  he  entered  Brown  University  in  Sep- 
tember 1809.  He  worked  his  way  through  college,  teaching 
school  in  winter,  but  by  indefatigable  industry  and  labor 
graduated  September  i,  18 13,  second  in  rank  in  his  class. 
He  entered  Andover  Seminary  in  18 13  ;  dropped  out  a  year 
to  teach  in  PhilHps  Academy,  and  graduated  in  September 

47 


370  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1818-1867. 

1 8 17.  He  had  been  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Essex  Middle 
Association  on  May  13th  previous,  and  followed  his  licensure 
by  preaching  several  Sabbaths  for  Rev.  Dr.  Dana  of  New- 
buryport.  Measures  looking  to  his  call  to  the  pastorate  in 
connection  with  Dr.  Dana  were  in  progress  when  he  was 
invited  to  preach  at  this  First  Church  in  Hartford.  He 
came  here  on  the  Saturday  following  his  graduation,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  here  on  the  succeeding  Sunday. 
He  preached  six  Sundays/  and  was  then  requested  by  the 
Committee  to  preach  six  more.     He  did  four. 

Having  thus  made  trial  of  his  gifts  for  ten  Sabbaths,  the 
Church,  at  a  meeting  presided  over  by  Deacon  Joseph 
Steward,  and  of  which  Mr.  Seth  Terry  was  Clerk,  on  the 
13th  of  January  1818,  voted  "unanimously"  to  extend  to 
Mr.  Hawes  "an  Invitation  to  take  the  Pastoral  Charge." 
With  this  action  of  the  Church,  the  Society  on  the  20th  of 
January  concurred.^  The  salary  tendered  to  Mr.  Hawes 
was  twelve  hundred  dollars,  "  so  long  as  he  shall  continue  to 
be  the  Minister  of  this  Society."     Seventeen  churches  were 


^  The  text  of  his  first  sermon  was  John  xv,  22  :  "  ^  /  had  not  come  and  spoken 
unto  them  they  had  7iot  had  sin,  but  now  they  have  tto  cloke  for  their  sin."  On 
Nov.  30th,  he  preached  at  Glastonbury,  and  good  Deacon  Colton  followed  him 
over  there  to  hear  him. 

3  The  Call  was  signed  by  Isaac  Bull,  Joseph  Steward,  Aaron  Chapin,  Josiah 
Beckwith,  Aaron  Colton,  Committee  of  the  Church,  and  John  Caldwell,  Enoch 
Perkins,  Normand  Smith,  Jonathan  Edwards,  Committee  of  the  Society. 
Nothing  is  affirmed  on  the  Society  records  as  to  its  unanimity;  but  there  seems 
to  be  evidence  that  however  the  vote  may  finally  have  been  made,  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  division  of  sentiment  as  to  the  call.  A  paper  was  awhile  .since 
extant,  and  may  be  in  existence  still,  containing  a  canvass  of  the  Society  on  the 
question  of  the  invitation,  with  each  member's  name  marked  on  the  negative  or 
affirmative  side  of  the  question.  The  division  was  nearly  equal,  with  a  prepon- 
derance on  the  side  of  the  call.  Two  gentlemen,  at  least,  well  known  in  Hart- 
ford, remember  this  paper,  one  of  whom  had  it  awhile,  in  his  possession.  It 
seems  probable  that  a  more  complete  unanimity  in  the  Church  than  in  the 
Society  respecting  the  call,  determined  the  latter  body  to  accede  without 
recorded  dissent  on  its  minutes  to  the  action  of  the  former. 


1818-1867.I  JOEL   HA  WES.  371 

invited  on  the  Council,  which  met  March  4,  18 18.  An  inter- 
esting letter  written  on  the  24th  of  February  preceding  the 
Council,  by  Rev.  David  Parsons  of  Amherst,  Mass.,  to  his 
brother-in-law,  Hon.  Thomas  S.  Williams  of  Hartford,  then 
in  Congress,  gives  a  contemporaneous  glimpse  of  the  man 
and  the  general  situation.     Mr.  Parsons  says  : 

"The  ordination  of  Mr.  Hawes  induces  me  to  attempt 
being  there.  Hearing  so  many  strictures  I  wish  to  see  the 
man.  Mr.  Parkhurst  our  Preceptor,  was  a  classmate  at 
Andover  and  left  at  the  same  time.  He  says  :.  '  He  was  a 
prime  scholar,  regarded  the  first  in  the  school — a  pious  man, 
filled  with  holy  zeal,  and  the  most  ready,  able  man  at  extem- 
poraneous performance  at  conference,  that  he  ever  heard.' 
Mr.  Tenny  observed  that  in  a  private  circle  at  Hartford,  Mr. 
Hawes  says — '  Some  say  I  preach  false  Doctrine,  but  as  I 
am  fully  able  to  substantiate  every  sentiment  by  the  Word  of 
God,  for  this  I  am  not  sorry.  Others  say  I  am  a  very  homely 
man,  but  as  I  had  no  hand  in  my  formation,  for  this  I  am  not 
sorry.  Others  say  I  am  a  very  awkward,  ungraceful,  uncom- 
plaisant  man  ; — for  this  I  am  very  sorry,  and  will  endeavor 
to  mend  in  my  manners  if  possible ;  and  believe  that  being 
conversant  with  the  polite  set  of  the  city  of  Hartford  I  stand 
a  good  chance.'  A  suspicion  of  his  being  an  Emnionsite 
I  believe  the  cause  of  inviting  such  an  abominably  large 
Council." 

In  the  public  service  of  the  ordination  Prof.  Fitch  of  Yale 
College  offered  the  Introductory  Prayer ;  Dr.  Woods  preached 
the  Sermon,  which  was  afterwards  published,  from  Heb.  xiii, 
17  ;  Dr.  Nathan  Perkins  of  West  Hartford  offered  the  or- 
daining Prayer ;  Mr.  Rowland  of  Windsor  gave  the  Charge; 
Dr.  Abel  Flint  of  the  Second  Church  extended  the  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Goodrich  of  Berlin 
made  the  concluding  prayer.'" 


'"  The  expense  of  the  Ordination  Dinner  as  charged  on  the  Treasurer's  Ac- 
count was  ninety-four  dollars.     The  Cmirant  of  March    lo,   iSiS,  gives   this 


372  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1818-1867 

Thus  inducted  into  the  pastorate,  the  tenth  in  the  ministe- 
rial succession  in  this  Church,  Mr.  Hawes  soon  followed  the 
establishment  of  his  ecclesiastical  relations  by  the  institution 
of  social  ones.  He  married  on  June  17,  18 18,  Miss  Louisa 
Fisher  of  Wrentham,  Mass." 

The  extended  biography  of  Joel  Hawes,  published  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Edward  A.  Lawrence  in  1873,'"  which  is  in  the  hands  of 
a  considerable  proportion  of  those  who  are  interested  in  the 
chronicles  of  the  First  Church,  will  be  held  by  the  present 
writer  to  excuse  him  from  entering  upon  any  elaborate  de- 
tails of  the  Pastor's  personal  history.  It  is  to  the  main  facts 
of  the  Church's  corporate  experience,  and  of  the  Pastor's 
life  in  relation  to  that  experience,  that  these  pages  must  be 
restricted. 

Dr.  Strong  had  certainly  been  a  very  able  and  in  most  of 
his  ministry  a  very  devout  and  useful  minister  ;  but  many 
things  in  Church  and  Society  affairs  were  left  by  him  at 
strangely  loose  ends. 

Yet  it  is  impossible  to  read  the  new  Pastor's  account  of 
matters,  written  in  the  first  year  of  his  ministry,  without  dis- 
cerning a  good  deal  of  exaggeration  and  some  inexplicable 
inaccuracy.     He  says  : 


account  of  the  proceedings :  "  A  numerous  and  attentive  audience  appeared  to 
be  deeply  interested  in  the  solemnities  of  the  occasion.  The  sacred  music  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Roberts  was  highly  honorable  to  the  Choir  of  Singers  who 
have  so  often  been  distinguished  on  public  occasions.  The  union  and  liberality 
of  the  people  with  the  character  and  attainments  of  their  Pastor  furnish  a  well- 
grounded  hope  that  he  will  become  a  worthy  member  of  the  illustrious  succes- 
sion of  Evangelical  Ministers  who  have  enlightened  and  adorned  this  Church 
from  the  first  settlement  of  the  State." 

''  Miss  Fisher  was  the  daughter  of  William  C.  and  Lois  Mason  Fisher  of 
Wrentham,  Mass.  Mr.  Fisher  was  a  farmer,  a  man  of  much  intelligence,  and 
of  prominence  in  the  public  business  of  his  town. 

12  "The  life  of  Joel  Hawes,  D.D.,  Tenth  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  by  Edward  A.  Lawrence,  D.D.  With  an  introduction  by  Theodore 
Woolsey,  D.L.,  LL.D.,  Hartford:  Published  by  Hamersley  and  Co.  1873." 
8vo,  pp.  385. 


1818-1867.]  JOEL  HAWES.  373 

"Our  Jerusalem  is  all  in  ruins.  .  .  When  I  see  how  much 
is  to  be  done  here  to  set  things  in  order,  I  am  ready  to  sink ; 
no  church-records  ;  no  documents  to  tell  me  who  are  mem- 
bers and  who  not  ;  what  children  have  been  baptised,  and 
what  not  ;  our  covenant  and  confession  of  faith  contained  in 
just  ten  Arminian  lines  ;  four  deacons  of  the  five  not  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  ;  many  irregular  members,  some  timid 
ones,  and,  I  fear,  but  few,  who  would  favor  a  thorough  re- 
formation. Oh,  dear!  But  under  the  guidance  and  blessing 
of  Providence,  I  hope  to  see  better  days.  My  purpose  is 
fixed  and  it  niicst  go."  '" 

Rev.  Mr.  Robbins,  writing  in  December  1816'*  of  his  friend 
Dr.  Strong,  says  :  "  The  church  which  he  has  left  contains 
about  400  communicants,  and  is  the  largest  in  the  State." 
Repeated  revivals  from  the  commencement  of  the  century  to 
the  year  previous  to  Dr.  Strong's  death  had  replenished  the 
spiritual  life  of  the  organization,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  see  how 
such  a  condition  of  "ruin"  could  have  existed  in  1819  as  the 
above  pessimistic  paragraph  implies.  The  statement  con- 
cerning the  absence  of  records  is  unfortunately  true.  Dr. 
Strong  seems  utterly  to  have  neglected  the  keeping  of  any 
account  of  baptisms',  church  admissions,  removals  or  deaths. 
Only  an  alleged  list  of  the  members  of  the  Church  at  the 
time  of  entrance  on  the  new  meeting-house  in  1807,  and 
some  imperfect  memoranda  kept  by  one  of  the  Prudential 
Committee  for  his  own  use,  survive  to  us  to  indicate  who  had 
a  place  in  the  fellowship  in  Dr.  Strong's  day.  But  in  the 
list  of  1807,  the  names  of  Isaac  Bull,  Aaron  Chapin,  Aaron 
Colton,  and  Joseph  Steward — deacons  in  1819,  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Hawes'  paragraph — appear  as  members  of  the  Church. 

But  unqestionably  there  was  enough  to  be  done,  and  the 
new  Pastor  threw  himself  into  his  work  with  energy  and  suc- 


'■^  Lawrence's  Life  of  Haives,  pp.  63-64. 
"  Courant,  Dec.  31,  18 16. 


374  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

cess.  Records  began  to  be  kept  in  the  Church,  unkept  or 
most  imperfectly  kept  for  forty-five  years.  A  Prudential 
Committee,  the  first  in  the  Church's  history,  was  appointed 
in  1 82 1  to  "aid  the  Pastor  in  promoting  the  peace  and  wel- 
fare of  the  Church  and  in  the  rtiaintenance  of  gospel  disci- 
pline." The  committee  thus  designated  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  individuals  :  Russell  Bunce,  William  W.  Ells- 
worth, Normand  Smith,  Caleb  Goodwin,  Henry  Hudson,  and 
James  R.  Woodbridge ;  and  the  records  of  the  Church  indi- 
cate that  they  entered  upon  their  function  of  "  maintenance 
of  gospel  discipline"  with  vigor. 

The  Pastor  sympathetically  cooperated  also  with  the  Sab- 
bath-school work,  first  undertaken  in  Hartft>rd  the  year  of  his 
settlement.  The  "  Sunday  School  Society  "  of  the  "  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Hartford,"  was  organized  on  the  5th  of 
May  18 1 8,  Rev.  Abel  Flint  of  the  Second  Church  being 
President,  and  Mr.  Hawes  one  of  the  Directors.'"  Four 
schools  were  formed  with  special  reference  to  the  four  then 
existing  religious  societies  in  the  place — the  First  and  Sec- 
ond Congregational,  Christ  Church,  and  the  First  Baptist — 
but  all  under  the  patronage  of  the  Union   Society."'     This 


■5  The  list  of  officers  was  as  follows:  Rev.  Abel  Flint,  President ;  Rev.  Jon- 
athan M.  Wainwright,  Vice-President ;  Seth  Terry,  Secretary;  Jeremiah  Brown 
Treasurer;  Rev.  Elisha  Cashmam,  Rev.  Joel  Hawes,  Michael  Olcott,  Russell 
Bunce,  Michael  Bull,  Joseph  B.  Gilbert,  Josiah  Beckwith,  Theodore  Pease, 
James  M.  Goodwin,  Directors. 

'•^  The  "  School  No.  i  "  was  held  at  the  "  North  Conference  Room  "  in  Temple 
street,  and  had  for  its  original  teachers  :  Messrs  J.  R.  Woodbridge,  George  Put- 
nam, Lyman  Coleman,  Walter  Colton,  Lewis  Edwards,  Daniel  P.  Hopkins,  and 
Misses  Betsy  Kingsbury,  Nancy  Perkins,  Susan  Knox,  Harriet  Whiting,  and 
Mary  Ann  Brown. 

"  School  No.  2  "  was  held  "  at  the  Episcopal  Church ;  "  "  No.  3  "  at  the  "Bap- 
tist Meeting  House  ; "  "  No.  4  at  the  South  Chapel."  George  Spencer  was 
Superintendent  of  School  No.  i ;  James  M.  Goodwin  of  School  No.  2  ;  Joseph 
B.  Gilbert  of  School  No.  3 ;  and  Elijah  Knox  of  School  No.  4.  The  schools 
were  maintained  only  in  the  months  of  Spring  and  Summer,  from  April  to  Oc- 
tober inclusive.  A  report  was  made  on  October  13,  1818,  that  the  average  at- 
tendance that  season  on  the  four  schools  had  been  "about  500  scholars." 


I8i8-i867.]  JOEL   HA  WES.  375 

arrangement  continued,  however,  only  about  two  years,  when 
each  society  took  the  management  of  Sunday-school  work 
into  its  own  hands. 

Another  action  to  which  the  Church  was  persuaded  about 
this  time  may,  or  may  not  perhaps,  command  equal  sympathy. 
The  new  Pastor  had  just  come  from  Andover,  where  the 
battle  lines  of  the  Unitarian  controversy  were  set  in  sharply 
hostile  array.  And  he  stigmatized  the  Covenant  of  the 
Church  here  as  "  a  covenant  and  confession  of  faith  con- 
tained in  just  ten  Arminian  lines."  That  Covenant,  which 
with  slight  verbal  change  had  been  in  use  in  this  Church 
certainly  more  than  a  century  and  a  quarter,  reads  as  follows : 

"You  do  now  solemnly,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  these 
witnesses,  receive  God  in  Christ  to  be  your  God :  one  God  in 
three  persons,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  You 
believe  the  Scriptures  to  be  the  word  of  God,  and  promise 
by  divine  grace  to  make  them  the  rule  of  your  life  and  con- 
versation. You  own  yourself  to  be  by  nature  a  child  of  wrath 
and  declare  that  your  only  hope  of  mercy  is  through  the 
merits  and  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ,  whom  you  now  pub- 
lickly  profess  to  take  for  your  Lord  and  Saviour,  your  Prophet, 
Priest,  and  King  :  and  you  now  give  up  yourself  to  Him  to 
be  ruled,  governed,  and  eternally  saved.  You  promise  by 
divine  grace  regularly  to  attend  all  the  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel  (as  God  may  give  you  light  and  opportunity)  and  to 
submit  to  the  rule  and  government  of  Christ  in  this  Church." 

Just  where  the  "Arminianism"  comes  into  this  old  formula 
to  which  so  many  generations  had  given  assent  in  the  most 
solemn  covenant  of  their  lives,  it  is  hard  to  tell.  But  the 
Church  yielded  to  the  Pastor's  desires,  and  on  the  29th  of 
July  1822,  adopted  a  long,  many-articled  confession  of  faith, 
which  with  slight  and  unimportant  modifications  continues 
in  use  to  this  day.'' 


'■^  See  Appendix  XIII  for  articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant  thus  adopted. 


376  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1818-1867. 

But  the  grand  distinguishing  feature  of  the  pastorate  under 
consideration  was  the  occurrence  of  revivals  of  religion  such 
as  on  the  whole  surpassed  in  fruitfulness  any  which  had 
marked  the  history  of  the  Church  before.  One  such  revival 
in  1 8 19  brought  into  the  Church  a  considerable  accession, 
among  whom  were  six  young  men  from  one  mechanics'  work- 
shop ;  three  of  whom  afterward  entered  the  gospel  ministry.'" 

Another  revival  in  1 820-1 821  pervaded  the  entire  region, 
and  brought  into  the  churches  connected  with  the  Hartford 
County  North  Association  more  than  a  thousand  new  mem- 
bers, and  added  to  the  First  Church  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight.  In  the  labors  of  this  period  the  Pastor  was  greatly 
assisted  by  the  presence  about  two  weeks  and  the  powerful 
preaching  of  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher  of  Litchfield.'"  Surviving 
members  of  the  Church  still  recall  the  scenes  of  intense 
solemnity  and  interest  in  the  crowded  meetings  of  the  old 
Temple  Street  Conference-room,  when  the  Litchfield  pastor 
preached,  and  in  the  house  to  house  visitation  of  the  two 


'**  Rev.  James  Anderson,  born  Sept.  13,  1798,  at  Hartford  ;  studied  awhile  at 
Amherst  College ;  graduated  at  Andover  Seminary,  1828 ;  ordained  pastor  at 
Manchester,  Vt.,  1829  ;  resigned  1858;  died  Dec.  22,  1881. 

Anson  Gleason,  went  as  missionary  to  the  Choctaw  Indians  in  Mississippi, 
leaving  Hartford  on  horseback  January  19,  1823.  Remained  in  that  work  till 
1831.  Missionary  to  the  Mohegan  Indians  in  Connecticut  from  1832  to  1848. 
District  Secretary  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  for  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire  1848  to 
1851.  Missionary  to  the  Seneca  Indians  in  New  York  1851  to  1861.  City  Mis- 
sionary in  Rochester  and  Utica  1861  to  1864.  City  Missionary  in  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.  1864  to  the  present  time  (March  1S84)  in  his  87th  year. 

Algernon  S.  Kennedy  graduated  Y.  C,  1825;  studied  Theology  under  private 
instruction  ;  licensed  to  preach  but  never  ordained ;  preached  in  various  places 
but  always  in  poor  health,  and  died  in  1841. 

'^  Rev.  A.  Gleason  in  a  letter  dated  Nov.  16,  1883,  says:  "The  messenger 
reached  Litchfield  in  the  night  and  called  Dr.  Beecher  up ;  and  he,  partly 
dressed,  walked  the  room  with  one  boot  on,  saying,  '  Wife  !  Wife  !  revival  in 
Hartford,  and' I  am  sent  for  ! '  And  the  Doctor  came  to  us  like  a  lighted  torch 
in  full  blaze.  Large  numbers  were  in  the  meetings  for  enquiry,  and  of  all  ages 
— judges,  lawyers,  merchants,  asking  the  way  to  the  kingdom," 


i8i8-i867-]  REVIVALS   AND   LECTURES.  377 

ministers  for  private  conference  with  the  enquirers  after  the 
way  of  Hfe. 

In  1826  another  general  awakening  in  this  region  brought 
many  into  the  churches,  and  added  to  the  First  Church  some 
fifty-four  members.  Many  of  them  were  young  men.  The 
Pastor  was  always  deeply  interested  in  this  portion  of  his 
congregation.  And  he  was  moved  in  the  autumn  of  the 
following  year,  1827,  to  preach  a  series  of  Lectures  to  Young 
Men  on  successive  Sunday  evenings  in  his  church.  These 
Lectures  were  most  enthusiastically  listened  to  by  crowded 
congregations.  A  repetition  of  them  by  request  before  the 
students  of  Yale  College,  was  attended  by  almost  equal  inter- 
est. Their  publication  was  called  for.  Few  books  of  a  simi- 
lar character  have  attained  a  like  circulation. 

First  published  in  April  1828,  the  edition  was  at  once 
exhausted  and  another  immediately  called  for.  To  the  third 
edition,  which  soon  followed  the  second,  was  added  a  Lecture 
oil  Reading,  first  delivered  before  the  Mechanic's  Association 
in  Hartford  and  repeated  to  the  First  Church  congregation. 

In  1856  two  more  lectures  were  added  :  the  Causes  of  Suc- 
cess and  of  Failure  in  Life,  and  the  Claims  of  the  Bible  on 
Yo7ing  Men,  and  the  copyright  of  the  volume  was  made  over 
by  the  author  to  the  Congregational  Board  of  Publication, 
with  the  stipulation  that  fifty  copies  should  be  annually  sub- 
ject to  the  call  of  the  successive  pastors  of  the  First  Church 
for  distribution  in  their  congregations.''" 


2°  This  arrangement  naturally  came  to  naught.  The  pecuniary  consideration 
in  view  of  which  the  Congregational  Board  of  Publication  undertook  the  annual 
delivery  of  the  books  was  totally  inadequate ;  the  demand  for  the  books  ceased ; 
and  in  1881  when  the  present  Pastor  unearthed  the  forgotten  agreement,  the 
Congregational  Publication  Society,  which  succeeded  to  the  effects  and 
liabilities  of  the  old  Board  of  Publication,  avowed  its  inability  to  meet  the  con- 
tinuous obligation  incurred  by  its  predecessor,  and  turned  over  to  the  First 
Church  the  remaining  copies  of  the  Lectures  on  its  hands. 
48 


378  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

It  is  said  that  nearly  a  hundred  thousand  copies  of  these 
Lectures  to  Young  Men  have  found  circulation  in  the  various 
editions  published  in  this  country,  and  a  still  larger  number 
in  Great  Britain.  One  Scotch  publisher  alone  issued  fifty 
thousand  copies." 

The  volume  makes  no  pretence  to  any  high  degree  of  lite- 
rary excellence.  It  lacks  the  charm  of  a  perennially  attractive 
style  or  of  a  brilliant  imagination.  Like  all  the  productions 
of  its  author,  its  aim  is  moral  impression  and  practical  use- 
fulness ;  and  this  aim  the  writer  of  these  lectures  had  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  was  eminently  attained.  In  the  pre- 
face of  the  edition  published  by  the  Congregational  Board 
in  1856,  the  author  is  able  to  say  that  "besides  numerous 
testimonies  to  its  general  usefulness,  he  has  heard  of  more 
than  eighty  young  men  who  have  traced  the  commencement 
of  their  Christian  life  to  impressions  received  from  reading 
this  little  book."  At  the  time  of  its  publication,  the  field 
was  a  comparatively  untrodden  one.  Young  men  had  not 
been  made  the  objects  of  the  continuous  address  and  appeal 
which  they  have  been  since.  But  measured  by  its  influence 
in  its  day,  few  more  successful  endeavors  have  been  made  in 
Christian  authorship  than  this  little  volume.  Perhaps  its 
wide  and  immediate  success  was  the  occasion  for  confer- 
ring on  its  author  the  Doctorate  Degree  in  Divinity  with 
which,  in  1831,  Brown  University  honored  him. 


^'  The  sale  of  the  American  edition  was  largely  the  source  of  income  out  of 
which  Dr.  Hawes  seems  to  have  built  his  house,  now  the  First  Church  Parson- 
age. The  ground,  valued  at  $1,000,  on  which  the  house  was  built,  was  given 
him  by  the  subscribers  to  a  paper  still  extant :  "  Daniel  Wadsworth,  $400 ; 
Thomas  S.  Williams,  |5ioo;  Oliver  D.  Cooke,  $100;  Wm.  W.  Ellsworth,  $25; 
Henry  L.  Ellsworth,  $50;  Henry  Hudson,  $100;  Joseph  Trumbull,  $50;  Chas. 
Seymour,  $50;  George  Goodwin,  $50;  Barzillai  Hudson,  $20;  Andrew  Kings- 
bury, $25  ;  Robert  Watkinson,  $30."  The  erection  of  the  superstructure  at  an 
apparent  expense  of  $2,998.49,  seems  to  have  been  provided  for,  certainly  in 
considerable  measure,  by  profits  on  the  sale  of  the  Lectures  to  Young  Men. 


1818-1867J  CHURCH   EXPERIENCES.  370 

Worn  somewhat  by  his  continuous  labors,  Dr.  Hawes  in 
May  1 83 1,  obtained  leave  of  his  Society''  to  take  a  Euro- 
pean trip ;  which  he  did  in  company  with  Rev.  Drs.  Asahel 
Nettleton,  Nathaniel  Hewitt,  Samuel  Green  and  Prof.  Hovey  ; 
returning  in  October  of  the  same  year.  His  return  was 
marked  by  the  earnest  resumption  of  his  work,  and  by  the 
experiment  of  a  "protracted"  or  "four  days'"  meeting;  tried 
it  is  said  for  the  first  time  in  Connecticut.  Dr.  Hawes 
doubted  the  wisdom  of  this  particular  form  of  endeavor,  but 
yielded  to  the  desire  of  the  pastors  of  the  Second  and  North 
Churches  who  favored  it.  Some  fifty  members  were  added 
to  the  Church  as  the  result  of  this  awakening:. 

In  1834  an  important  religious  movement  occurred  which 
brought  into  the  Church  many  heads  of  families  and  men  of 
general  influence  in  the  community,  who  had  remained  hith- 
erto unreached.  The  powerful  preaching  of  Rev.  N.  W. 
Taylor  of  New  Haven,  who  reinforced  the  endeavors  of  the 
Pastor  at  this  time,  contributed  greatly  to  the  success  of  this 
awakening,  which  resulted  in  the  accession  of  between  sixty 
and  seventy  to  the  church  membership.  The  year  1838 
brought  in  eighty. 

In  1 841  was  another  great  revival  in  this  region.  Rev. 
Mr.  Kirk,  then  in  the  prime  of  his  popular  eloquence  and 
evangelistic  fervor,  preached  in  many  of  the  Hartford 
churches  with  persuasive  power.     One  hundred  and  ten  per- 

22  The  Society  voted  the  Pastor  $500  toward  the  expense  of  this  trip.  His 
pulpit  was  supplied  in  his  five  months  absence  mainly  by  Rev.  James  T.  Dickin- 
son. Mr.  Dickinson  was  born  at  Lowville,  N.  Y.,  October  27,  1806;  graduated 
Yale  College,  1826;  Yale  Theological  Seminary,  1S30 ;  Pastor  of  2d  Church, 
Norwich,  Conn.,  two  and  a  half  years,  1832-1834  ;  Missionary  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 
at  Singapore,  1834-1840;  Teacher  at  Singapore,  1840-1843;  Stated  preacher 
at  Middlelield,  Conn.,  1845-6 ;  resides  at  Middlefield. 


38o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

sons  were  added  to  this  Church  at  this  period.  More  than 
one  hundred  stood  up  at  one  time  in  the  aisle  of  the  church 
to  confess  their  new  faith.  The  revival  of  1852  brought  in 
sixty-six,  and  that  of  1858  fifty. 

Ten  periods  of  distinct  religious  awakening  occurred  during 
this  ministry,  and  there  were  added  to  the  Church  in  that 
space  of  time,  by  confession  of  faith,  ten  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-nine members. 

It  is  obvious  to  remark,  in  view  of  a  fact  like  this,  that  the 
ministry  of  this  eminent  Pastor  was  cast  in  a  period  more 
characterized  by  general  revival  influences  than  any  which 
had  gone  before  for  a  hundred  years,  or  than,  from  present 
signs,  seems  very  likely  soon  to  occur  again.  But  it  is 
equally  obvious  that  these  extraordinary  results  were  largely 
attributable  to  the  man  himself  who  was  in  this  pastorate  at 
that  period.  His  zeal,  his  wisdom,  his  perseverance,  his  pro- 
found convictions,  his  unmistakable  sincerity  and  devotion, 
were  powerful,  and  it  is  perfectly  proper  to  say,  indispensable 
elements  in  that  wonderful  series  of  awakenings. 

But  if  the  period  of  this  pastorate  was  one  of  large  acces- 
sions to  the  Church,  it  was  also  one  of  large  colonizations 
from  it. 

On  the  23d  of  September  1824,  ninety-seven  members 
received  dismission  from  this  Church,  and  were,  with  others, 
organized  as  the  North  Church. 

On  the  loth  of  January  1832,  eighteen  members  were  or- 
ganized with  others  as  the  Free,  now  the  Fourth  Church. 

On  the  14th  of  October  1852,  thirty-six  members  of  this 
Church,  and  soon  after  eleven  more,  were  dismissed  to  unite 
with  others  in  forming  the  Pearl  Street  Church. 

For  some  reason  the  departure  of  those  members  destined 
to  the  Pearl  Street  Church  finds  unusual  chronicle  on  the 


1818-1867.]  CHURCH   EXPERIENCES.  381 

generally  arid  pages  of  the  Church  record.  The  Thursday- 
evening  lecture  on  the  date  of  their  dismissal  was  given  up 
to  a  meeting  for  reminiscences  and  farewells.  Deacon  W. 
W.  Turner  presented  the  written  request  of  himself  and  his 
thirty-five  associates  for  dismission.  Judge  Thomas  S.  Wil- 
liams, as  the  senior  lay  officer  in  the  Church,  moved  the  grant- 
ing of  the  request.  Deacons  Smith  and  Turner  followed 
with  addresses  of  thanks  and  expressions  of  regret  at  sepa- 
ration. Deacon  Turner  said  :  *'  Our  Pastor  is  the  only  one 
who  remains  of  those  who  were  in  the  city  when  I  came 
here.  The  population  of  the  place  was  then  about  5,000  ; 
now  it  is  20,000.  There  were  then  four  places  of  worship — 
the  South  Church,  a  little  north  of  the  present  edifice ;  this 
Church,  the  only  brick  church-edifice  in  the  city;  Christ 
Church,  which  has  since  been  removed  to  Talcott  Street  for 
the  Catholics,  and  the  Baptist  Church,  just  east  of  the  City 
Hall." 

Dr.  Hawes  responded  in  an  address  of  much  emotion : 
"  Each  successive  withdrawal  of  this  kind  makes  a  deeper 
impression  upon  me.  Jacob  in  his  old  age  was  more  affected 
by  parting  from  Benjamin,  than  from  Joseph  and  Simeon 
before.  Four  times  I  have  witnessed  a  scene  like  this.  In 
1824  ninety-seven  members  left  us  to  the  North  or  Third 
Church;  in  1832  eighteen  to  the  Fourth  Church,  and  in 
185 1  eight  to  the  Presbyterian  Church.  But  this  enterprise 
has  ever  had  my  cordial  good  wishes,  and  if  I  have  access  to 
the  throne  of  grace,  I  shall  remember  it  there." 

On  the  5th  of  March  1865,  forty  members,  and  shortly 
after  eleven  more,  were  dismissed  to  unite  with  others  in 
forming  the  Asylum  Hill  Church. 

The  old  Church  was  a  quarry,  out  of  which  everybody  was 
free  to  draw  the  living  stones  of  newer  temples.     It  gave 


382  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [181S-1867. 

liberally.  It  gave  men  and  it  gave  money.  It  was  eminently 
a  church-planting  and  missionary  Church. 

That  the  Church  had  this  character  was  very  largely  owing 
to  the  Pastor's  earnest  sympathy  with  that  cause  which  Dr. 
Strong  before  him  had  so  nearly  at  heart,  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions. The  idea  which  had  inspired  the  men  with  whom  Dr. 
Strong  labored  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  "  new  settlements," 
had  widened  in  Dr.  Hawes'  day  to  the  purpose  to  evangelize 
the  pagans  of  other  lands  than  our  own.  And  to  awaken 
sympathy  with  this  purpose  on  the  part  of  his  people,  the 
Pastor  devoted  some  of  his  best  energies.  He  was  elected  a 
corporate  member  of  The  American  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions in  1838,  and  continued  a  member  till  his  death.  Under 
his  leadership  the  congregation  became  one  of  the  most 
liberal  givers  to  this  object  of  any  in  New  England. 

It  was  in  fitting  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  self-surrender 
for  this  object  which  he  so  strenuously  inculcated,  that  Dr. 
Hawes  consented  to  the  marriage  of  his  only  daughter  Mary, 
to  Rev.  Henry  J.  Van  Lennep,"'  with  a  view  to  a  missionary 
life  in  a  foreign  land.  She  left  her  father's  house  in  1843, 
and  sailed  in  October  of  that  year  for  Smyrna.  She  had 
the  happiness  to  be  accompanied  by  her  father,  to  whom  his 
Church  had  given  a  leave  of  absence,  and  to  whom  in  con- 
junction with  Rev.  Dr.  Rufus  Anderson  the  "Board"  had 
entrusted  a  visitation  commission  to  the  Turkey  missions." 


'■'^  Rev.  Henry  John  Van  Lennep,  D.D.,  born  at  Smyrna,  Asia  Minor,  Marcli 
iS,  1815;  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  1837  ;  ordained,  Aug.  27,  1839;  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Hawes,  Sept.  4,  1843,  and  Emily  Ann  Bird,  April  18, 1850  ;  mission- 
ary at  Smyrna,  1839-1S69;  returned  to  America  ;  resides  at  Great  Barrington, 
Mass. 

-*  During  the  absence  of  Dr.  Hawes  the  pulpit  was  mainly  supplied  by  Rev. 
Charles  Rich  (Mr.  Rich  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1838  ;  acting  pastor  at  Mer- 
iden,  1840-41  ;  died,  1862.)  Some  people  expressed  the  fear  that  Mr.  Rich 
would  steal  the  hearts  of  the  people.    Judge  Williams  wrote  to  Dr.  Hawes : 


1818-1867.]  CHURCH   EXPERIENCES.  383 

Her  term  of  service  was  destined  to  be  short.  She  died  in 
September  of  the  following  year,  1844,  and  was  buried  in 
foreign  soil." 

Her  father  returned  from  the  Levantine  tour  in  the  early 
summer  of  1844,  the  Church  receiving  from  the  mission- 
aries at  Constantinople  a  letter  of  testimonial  to  the  encour- 
agement and  cheer  imparted  by  this  visit  of  its  Pastor,  A 
public  reception  at  the  City  Hall  was  arranged  on  the  Pas- 
tor's return,  where  he  was  cordially  welcomed  by  his  congre- 
gation and  by  others. 

Of  course  a  pastorate  like  this  attracted  attention,  and 
induced  other  churches  to  desire  the  services  of  such  a  man 
for  themselves.  In  1828  Dr.  Hawes  was  invited  to  the  min- 
istry of  the  Bowery  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  York;  a 
call  which  was  repeated  on  his  first  declination  of  it,  but  a 
second  time  refused.  In  183 1  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  Park  Street  Church  in  Boston  ;  and  having  declined 
to  accept  it,  was  once  more,  about  a  year  afterward,  solicited 
to  accept  the  same  charge,  but  with  a  like  negative  of  the 


"There  is  no  serious  danger  from  this  source.     I  agree  with  Mr.  M ,  that 

'  when  Dr.  Hawes  returns  home  and  blows  his  trumpet,  his  troops  will  all  flock 
to  his  standard.' " 

^?  A  memoir  of  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Van  Lennep  was  written  by  her  mother  and 
published,  passing  through  many  editions.  It  is  a  graceful  tribute  to  a  beauti- 
ful life.  Mary  was  born  April  16,  1821.  She  became  a  member  of  this  Church 
in  June  1833,  at  the  age  of  12  years.  She  was  ever  an  active  and  working 
Christian,  intent  on  the  salvation  of  her  companions  and  acquaintances,  the 
members  of  her  Sunday-school  class,  and  all  to  whom  her  influence  could 
reach.  She  was  married  at  22  years  of  age,  and  sailed  almost  immediately  for 
the  mission  to  which  her  husband  was  destined.  Her  life  on  the  mission  field 
was  one  of  earnest  consecration  and  effort  to  qualify  herself  for  a  large  useful- 
ness. She  was  cut  off  from  all  her  hopes  of  such  continued  service,  dying  of 
typhus,  Sept.  27,  I844.  A  discourse,  entitled  A  Father'' s  Memorial  of  an  Only 
Daughter,  was  preached  by  her  father  in  Hartford,  Dec.  9,  1844,  which  was 
published ;  a  sermon  eminently  characteristic  of  the  self-control  and  submis- 
siveness  of  the  afflicted  parent,  as  well  as  happily  descriptive  of  the  attractive 
traits  of  his  sainted  child. 


384  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

proposal.  During  the  few  following  years  Dr.  Hawes  re- 
ceived and  declined  invitations  to  become  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Buffalo,  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Utica,  the  First  Reformed  Church  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  the  Richmond  Street  Church  in  Providence.  But 
he  preferred  to  abide  where  he  was  first  planted.  Nor  does 
there  seem  at  any  time  to  have  been  much  apprehension  on 
the  part  of  his  congregation  that  he  would  accept  any  of  the 
overtures  made  to  him.  Either  from  a  confidence  in-  the 
Pastor's  affection  for  his  people,  or  from  a  not  perhaps  un- 
characteristic estimate  on  their  part  of  the  desirableness  of 
a  relationship  to  Hartford  and  its  First  Ecclesiastical  estab- 
lishment, there  appears  no  indication  of  any  great  fear  of  his 
removal.'^'' 

The  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  was  always  a  conspicuous 
figure  at  the  State  religious  gatherings,  and  his  Church  had 
reason  for  confidence  that,  represented  by  him,  its  voice 
would  have  full  weight  in  whatsoever  questions  were  in  de- 
bate. Though  not  naturally  a  polemic  or  a  controversialist, 
Dr.  Hawes  was  a  strong  debater,  and  was  a  sympathetic 
defender  of  the  ecclesiastical  system  long  legally  established 
and  still  longer  generally  accepted  in  Connecticut."     It  was 


^^A  letter  (perhaps  happily  anonymous)  preserved  in  Dr.  Lawrence's  biogra- 
phy of  Dr.  Hawes,  written  to  the  Pastor  during  the  pendency  of  the  overture 
to  the  Bowery  Street  Church,  presents  this  view  of  the  impossibility  of  a  seri- 
ous intent  to  go  anywhere  from  Hartford,  in  a  very  soberly  intended,  but  a 
decidedly  amusing  manner.  Possibly,  however,  a  trace  of  solicitude  on  this 
point  (or  perhaps  it  may  be  rather  of  gratitude  for  his  conclusion)  appears  in 
the  addition,  in  1836,  of  $300  to  the  salary  on  which  the  Pastor  was  settled ;  an 
addition  which  was  voted  regularly  thereafter  till  1854,  when  the  salary  was 
fixed  at  $2,000,  till  the  settling  of  an  "  Associate  Pastor  "  in  1S62,  when  the 
original  ^1,200,  on  which  he  was  settled,  was  reverted  to  and  continued  until  his 
death. 

2^  Dr.  Hawes  was  fond  of  quoting  the  statement  of  Thomas  Hooker  (Swvey^ 
iv,  I.)  "The  Consociation  of  Churches  is  not  onely  lawful  but  very  usefull 
also ; "  and   especially  that  other  saying,  uttered  "  about  a  week   before   his 


181S-1867.]  DR.  HAWES'  WRITINGS.  385 

not  till  three  years  after  his  death  that  the  local  Consociation 
to  which  his  Church  belonged  suspended  '^^  its  regular  assem- 
blies ;  doubtless  in  favor  of  the  newly-instituted  Conferences, 
which  had  come  extensively  through  the  State,  to  take  the 
place  of  the  older  organizations. 

Dr.  Hawes  was  not  characteristically  a  book-writer.  His 
mind  was  not  of  a  speculative  or  imaginative  order,  prompt- 
ing to  authorship  as  a  channel  for  the  outflow  of  what  could 
not  be  repressed.  He  wrote  some  books,  but  they  were 
mainly  practical  in  aim,  and  such  as  were  begotten  of  the 
pastoral,  experience.  Beside  the  Lectures  to  Young  Men, 
spoken  of  already,  he  published  in  1830  A  Tribute  to  the 
Memory  of  the  Pilgrims ;  in  1839  a  Memoir  of  Nortnand 
Smith ;  in  1 843  Character  Everything  to  the  Young ;  in 
1845  The  Religion  of  the  East;  in  1845  Looking-G lass  for 
the  Ladies,  or  the  Formation  and  Excellence  of  Female  Char- 
acter ;  in  1850  Washington  and  Jay ;  beside  a  great  many 
occasional  addresses  and  sermons  on  public  occasions. 
Among  the  latter  ought  particularly  to  be  mentioned  A  Cen- 
tennial Discourse  on  the  First  Church  in  Hartford,  delivered 
June  26,  1836;  and  an  Address  delivered  at  the  Request  of 


death,"  (See  Trumbull  i,  479.)  "We  must  agree  upon  constant  meetings  of 
ministers,  and  settle  the  consociation  of  churches  or  else  we  are  undone."  He 
was  indeed  accustomed  to  assert,  as  he  did  in  his  address  at  the  one  hundred 
and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  General  Association,  in  1859,  that  Mr.  Hooker 
"  was  the  father  of  the  system  of  Consociation."  (See  Cont.  Cottn.  Eccl.  Hist., 
p.  87.) 

''■'*  Oct.  18,  1871,  the  Hartford  North  Consociation  "voted  to  dispense  with 
Annual  meetings,"  and  entrusted  its  records  "to  the  care  of  the  Registrar  of 
Hartford  Conference."  The  Hartford  Conference  was  formed  Feb.  21,  1871. 
The  First  Church  on  the  27th  of  November  previous,  responded  by  appointing 
delegates  to  an  overture  of  the  Second  Church,  dated  Nov.  15th,  calling  a 
meeting  of  the  Hartford  and  neighboring  churches  at  the  chapel  of  the  Second 
Church,  Nov.  30,  1870,  for  "  purposes  of  religious  quickening,  and  possibly,  if 
deemed  advisable,  for  the  formation  of  a  permanent  local  Conference." 
49 


386  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

the  Citizens  of  Hartford,  Nov.  9,  1835,  «/  the  Close  of  the 
Second  Century  from  the  Settlement  of  the  City. 

Neither  of  these  discourses  shows  much  trace  of  historical 
investigation  ;  a  process  not  very  congenial  to  the  Pastor's 
taste  or  practice ;  but  both  are  interesting  contributions  to 
the  local  literature  of  the  Church  and  town. 

Through  all  that  he  wrote  the  homiletic  habit  of  his  mind 
manifested  itself.  He  was  above  all  else  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel.  Nothing  much  attracted  his  attention  or  stirred  his 
pen  which  had  not  a  quite  immediate  connection  with  prac- 
tical religion. 

Dr.  Hawes  was  not,  like  his  predecessor  Dr.  Strong,  a 
witty  man,  but  he  had  a  sometimes  vigorous,  sometimes 
quaint,  or  sometimes  odd  and  simple  way  of  saying  things, 
which  cause  many  of  his  utterances  to  be  familiarly  remem- 
bered.    A  few  stories  of  him  may  here  be  recorded : 

Dr.  Hawes  always  recollected  the  priority  of  the  First 
Church  over  all  other  ecclesiastical  institutions  in  town ; 
and  his  own  long  connection  with  that  Church  gave  him  a 
kind  of  conscious  primacy  in  the  place  which  found  pleasant 
expression  in  this  anecdote  told  of  him.  Calling  on  the 
scholarly  rector  of  an  Episcopal  Church  in  the  city  with 
whom  he  was  on  terms  of  familiarity,  and  not  finding  him  at 
home,  he  replied  to  the  question  of  the  servant  as  to  whom 
she  should  say  had  called,  "  Say  Bishop  Hawes." 

A  young  friend,  of  sanguine  expectations,  was  going  West 
to  make  a  home.  Dr.  Hawes  bade  him  good-bye  with  best 
wishes  for  the  realization  of  his  hopes,  but  suggested  the 
propriety  of  his  remembering  that  "  Lot  chose  one  of  the 
cities  of  the  plain  to  dwell  in  because  it  was  well  watered, 
but  he  was  bnrned  ont  nevertheless." 

Dr.  Hawes  looked  with   much  disfavor  on  the  discontinu- 


1818-1867.]  PERSONAL  TRAITS.  387 

ance  of  the  afternoon  preaching  service  in  his  congregation. 
Reading  on  one  occasion  the  eighty-fourth  Psalm,  and  com- 
ing to  the  verse  For  a  day  in  thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thou- 
sand^ he  paused ;  and  lifting  off  his  spectacles  and  looking 
straight  down  with  extended  fore- finger  at  a  friend  in  the 
congregation  who  advocated  the  forenoon  preaching  only, 
said  :  "Observe,  it  is  a  day  in  thy  courts  the  Psalmist  wanted, 
not  merely  Jialf  a  day." 

The  absolute  sincerity  and  incapability  of  indirection  or 
finesse  of  Dr.  Hawes,  come  plainly  and  even  amusingly  out 
in  these  two  incidents  which  are  told  of  him.  The  first  time 
his  ageing  eyesight  demanded  the  employment  of  spectacles 
in  the  pulpit,  he  took  them  quite  obviously  and  even  demon- 
stratively out  of  his  pocket,  and  remarking  "  You  see,  my 
dear  people,  what  I  have  come  to,"  deliberately  adjusted  them 
and  began  his  discourse. 

Being  called  to  New  York  to  assist  Dr.  Spring  in  a  time 
of  great  religious  interest,  and  preaching  to  a  crowded  and 
intensely  solemn  assembly.  Dr.  Hawes'  sermon  led  on  into  a 
passage  bewailing  the  declension  of  religion  and  the  absence 
of  indications  of  spiritual  life.  He  continued  in  this  strain 
several  sentences,  when  he  paused,  and  putting  his  finger  on 
the  point  where  he  left  off,  looked  over  the  pulpit  in  an 
explanatory  way,  saying  "  You  perceive,  my  friends,  that  this 
sermon  was  originally  written  for  another  occasion"  and 
went  on  with  the  discourse. 

Dr.  Hawes  had  a  strong  aversion  to  anything  that  looked 
like  artificiality  and  sensationalism  in  the  pulpit.  One  Sun- 
day a  New  York  minister  of  some  celebrity  preached  for 
him.  Monday  morning  a  brother  minister  met  him  and 
alluded  to  his  having  had  a  distinguished  minister  in  his  pul- 
pit the  day  before.     The  quick   and  only  response  of  the 


388  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

Doctor  was  :  "  There  are  a  great  many  ways  of  going  to  hell, 
and  flashy  preaching  is  one  of  them." 

The  strong  and  comforting  words  Dr.  Hawes  used  to 
speak  in  the  sick-room  made  his  visits  welcome  and  often 
called  for.  On  one  occasion  he  could  not  go  to  see  a  good 
old  lady  who  seemed  near  her  end  ;  but  knowing  what  man- 
ner of  woman  she  was,  he  sent  the  message  :  "  Tell  her  she 
has  a  free  pass  to  heaven  that  don't  need  Joel  Hawes'  en- 
dorsement." 

The  Pastor  liked  to  preach,  but  he  preferred  to  preach  to 
a  good  congregation.  Rev.  Dr.  O.  E.  Daggett  used  to  tell 
with  pleasure  the  fact  that  during  his  settlement  at  the 
Second  Church — from  1837  to  1843 — ^  rainy  Sunday  morn- 
ing was  very  likely  to  bring  him,  about  breakfast  time,  a 
proposal  from  Dr.  Hawes  for  an  exchange  that  day.  This 
rainy-day  exchange  occurred  so  many  times,  that  at  last  a 
good  old  lady  of  the  Second  Church,  innocently  but  ear- 
nestly remarked  to  her  pastor  upon  the  "  very  singular  Prov- 
idence which  always  orders  it  to  rain  whenever  Dr.  Hawes 
preaches  at  the  South  Church." 

Dr.  Hawes  was  genuinely  desirous  that  the  young  men  of 
his  Church  should  be  brought  forward  into  the  ranks  of  the 
active  workers  in  it,  but  his  nervousness  at  their  attempts 
was  obvious  to  them,  and  could  but  exert  a  somewhat  repres- 
sive influence.  Dr.  H.  Clay  Trumbull  tells  this  incident  of 
a  monthly-concert  service,  which  it  had  been  arranged  should 
be  conducted  by  the  young  men.  Dr.  Hawes  after  opening 
the  meeting  said,  "  I  understand  that  the  young  men  have 
arranged  to  report  from  different  missionary  fields  to-night. 
They  have  not  informed  me  of  their  plans.  But  they  will 
go  on.  Who  comes  first  ? "  Mr.  George  P.  Bissell,  then 
quite  a  young  man,  stepped  forward  and  reported  as  to  China. 


1818-1867.]  PERSONAL  TRAITS.  389 

"  Who  comes  next  ?  "  asked  the  Doctor,  with  a  touch  of  un- 
easiness in  his  tone.  W.  Wallace  Jones,  still  younger,  re- 
ported from  the  field  of  Home  Missions,  "Who's  next.?" 
called  out  the  Doctor,  in  little  less  than  a  groan.  H.  Clay 
Trumbull  rose  to  report  from  the  Sandwich  Islands.  As  the 
Doctor  saw  his  beardless  face  the  juvenile  element  was  al- 
together too  much  for  him.  "  Stop,  Trumbull,  stop  !  "  he 
called  out,  and  turning  imploringly  to  Chief-Justice  Wil- 
liams said  earnestly,  "Judge  Williams,  as  soon  as  Mr.  Trum- 
bull is  through,  won't  you  speak  or  lead  in  prayer.  A  few 
words  of  age  and  experience  would  do  us  good  to-night." 
Then  turning  to  Mr.  Trumbull  he  said,  graciously,  "  Now  go 
on,  Trumbull." 

The  Doctor,  nevertheless,  was  troubled  sometimes  at  the 
comparatively  small  numbers  who  took  part  in  the  rather 
formidably  conducted  services  in  which  Judges  Ellsworth 
and  Williams,  and  other  mature  and  dignified  members  of 
the  Church  chiefly  participated  ;  and  occasionally  he  deter- 
mined that  a  new  leaf  should  be  turned.  Rising  at  an  even- 
ing service,  with  a  resolute  look  in  his  face,  he  said  :  "  I 
hear  that  in  Brother  Beadle's  church,  close  by  us,  there  are 
more  than  eighty  persons,  who  at  one  time  or  another  take 
part  in  the  prayer-meeting  services.  I  have  been  looking  the 
iliatter  over  and  I  can  count  only  eleven  to  be  depended  on 
in  that  way  in  this  Church  of  over  five  hundred.  Brethren, 
this  must  be  changed."  Then  pointing  at  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Church,  well  known  in  public  affairs  but  seldom 
or    never    participating    in    devotional    services,    he    said : 

"  Brother will  you  lead  us  in  prayer,  and  ivc  won't  take 

any  excuse  !  "  ^^ 


'^3  The  utility  of  a  mid-week  conference  when  compared  with  a  mid-week  lec- 
ture, was  a  point  about  which  Dr.  Hawes  always  had  very  positive  convictions. 


390  THE    FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1S18-1867. 

This  unique  method  of  the  Pastor's  introducing  a  public 
speaker  rests  on  the  same  authority  as  the  last  two  anecdotes 
before  given,  that  of  Dr.  H.  Clay  Trumbull.  The  speaker 
was  a  missionary  and  had  been  duly  introduced  by  the  Pas- 
tor to  the  Thursday-evening  assembly.  Suddenly  the  Pastor, 
who  had  taken  his  seat  back  of  the  stranger,  sprang  up,  say- 
ing, "Stop!"  Then  addressing  the  congregation,  he  con- 
tinued "  I  knew  this  man  when  he  was  a  boy  ;  a  most 
unpromising  youth  !  I  never  thought  he  would  make  any- 
thing. But  he  persevered.  He  kept  at  work.  And  now 
let  me  say  he  can  write  as  good  a  letter  as  any  senior  in  Yale 
College.     Go  on,  brother  !  " 

Dr.  Hawes  had  a  sturdy  and  a  well-grounded  persuasion 
that  he  was  an  effective  preacher.  In  his  later  days,  when 
he  began  to  be  surrounded  by  younger  men,  "the  rather  new 
and  modern  sound  of  their  gospel " — one  of  them  says — did 
not  always  please  him.  And  he  had  a  conversation  on  the 
subject  with  an  aged  minister,  and  after  criticizing  the  young 
ministers  about  him  in  some  respects,  and  admitting  a  few 
things  in  [their]  favor,  he  wound  up  and  said  :  "But  when 
it  comes  to  preaching,  Brother  B.,  I  can  beat  the  whole  of 
them."  ^" 

Underneath  his  somewhat  rough  and  sometimes  rather 
austere  deportment,  the  Pastor  carried  a  very  warm  and  sen- 
sitive heart.  He  saw  much  personal  affliction  and  bereave- 
ment, and  he  knew  how  to  sympathize  with  suffering.  His 
love  for  the  young  was  earnest  and  tender.     The  loss  of  so 


His  successor,  Rev.  Mr.  Gould  (sharing  the  general  views  of  later  New  Eng- 
land pastors  on  the  matter)  instituted  a  conference  meeting,  in  place  of  the  lec- 
ture. Encountering  Mr.  Gould  at  the  post-office,  one  morning,  after  a  not 
very  successful  Thursday  evening  conference,  Dr.  Hawes  abruptly  addressed 
him:  "Brother  Gould,  you'll  never  make  those  gabble-meetings  go  in  the 
Centre  Church,  never !  " 

^  Rev.  Dr.  Burton  in  the  First  Church  Commemorative  Exercises,  p.  120. 


1818-1867.]  SOCIETY  AFFAIRS.  3QI 

many  of  his  own  children  in  early  life  seemed  to  bind  all 
other  children  to  him.  His  approaches  to  them  were  rather 
elephantine  and  stately  sometimes,  but  young  children  saw 
friendliness  in  him  always  and  were  seldom  afraid  of  him. 
He  had  a  broad,  -hearty  laugh  ;  was  fond  of  good  stories  ; 
was  quick  at  rejoinder,  and  a  wholesome,  healthy  talker.  In 
the  family  visits  among  his  people  his  presence  was  welcome 
as  sunlight  and  brought  with  it  a  benediction. 

Meantime  alongside  the  really  grand  record  of  this  pastor- 
ate on  its  spiritual  side,  ran  the  semi-secular  chronicle  of 
Society  matters,  with  its  usual  line  of  honorable,  amusing, 
or  drudging  incidents. 

The  purchase  system  respecting  the  pews  and  slips  in  the 
meeting-house,  was  attended  by  some  disadvantages.  Owners 
of  good  sittings  thus  legally  secured,  sometimes  were  unwill- 
ing and  sometimes  became  unable  to  pay  a  proper  propor- 
tion of  the  Society  expenses.  In  1823  the  Society  found 
itself  twenty-one  hundred  dollars  in  debt  on  current  ex- 
penses ;  and  proposed  for  the  meeting  of  future  obligations 
a  scheme  of  a  lease  of  the  pews  to  the  Society  on  the  part 
of  the  owners,  and  of  annual  rental  to  the  congregation ; 
three-fourths  of  the  amount  of  the  rental  to  be  paid  to  the 
owners,  and  one-fourth  "with  a  moderate  tax"  additional, 
to  be  applied  to  the  expenditures  of  the  Society.  The 
scheme  was  carried  into  partial  execution  but  afforded  no 
permanent  relief. 

In  1826  the  debt  had  increased,  and  the  Society  voted  to 
attempt  the  purchase  of  the  pews  "at  a  rate  not  exceeding 
sixty-five  percent,  on  their  original  cost"  for  those  held  in 
fee,  and  "  thirty-two  and  a  half  per  cent,  for  those  sold  for 
thirty  years,"  and  conditional  "on  the  assent  to  such  pur- 
chase of  three-fourths  of  the  total  valuation." 


392  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1818-1867. 

One  consideration  urged  at  this  meeting  was  that  "  both 
the  North  and  South  Societies  have  elegant  and  convenient 
churches  where  seats  may  be  purchased  annually  at  Auction 
upon  perfectly  equal  competition."  Three-fourths  of  the 
interest  could  not  be  secured."  So  in  1827  the  Society 
made  the  attempt  again,  fixing  the  measure  of  assent  requi- 
site, at  two-thirds  of  the  interest  involved.  This  plan  so  far 
succeeded  that  in  1828  the  Society  authorized  a  committee 
to  borrow  eighteen  thousand  dollars  for  the  purchase  of  such 
pews  as  could  be  had  on  the  terms  proposed,  which  pews 
were  to  be  thereafter  annually  rented  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Society.  But  not  all  the  pews  could  be  so  purchased.  Some 
of  their  owners  and  occupants,  furthermore,  were  not  legal 
members  of  the  Society.  And  thus  many  pews  regularly 
■filled  by  worshipers  in  the  congregation,  escaped  all  contri- 
bution to  ministerial  support  or  to  parish  expenditures.  To 
meet  this  difficulty  the  Society  voted,  in  March  1838,  to 
apply  to  the  Legislature  for  power  to  tax  the  pews  and  slips 
in  the  meeting-house  generally,  for  the  expenses  of  the 
Society. 

But  the  matter  dragged  along,  a  source  of  annoyance  and 
of  recrimination,  till  1847,  at  which  time  the  Society  Avas 
able  to  put  an  end  to  the  long  difficulty  by  the  passage  of 
the  following  vote : 

"Voted  :  that  to  aid  in  the  support  of  Public  worship  in 
this  Society  for  the  year  ensuing  there  be  raised  by  Assess- 
ment upon  the  Pews  and  Slips  in  the  Meeting  House  the 
sum  of  Twenty-five  Hundred  dollars ;  and  the  Society's 
Committee  are  authorized  and  directed  to  assess  the  same 
upon  the  respective  pews   and  slips  in  proportion  to  their 


3^  The  paper  is  still  extant  bearing  the  signatures  of  those  who  did  agree  to 
this  proposal ;  they  are  the  names  of  the  leading  members  of  the  congregation 
of  the  period,  headed  almost  of  course  by  Daniel  Wadsworth. 


1818-1867.]  SOCIETY   AFFAIRS.  393 

value  as  they  may  estimate  the  same,  and  the  sum  so 
assessed  shall  be  payable  to  the  Treasurer  on  the  6"' 
day  of  March  next :  and  if  in  any  case  it  becomes  neces- 
sary to  enforce  the  payment,  the  Committee  are  author- 
ized and  directed  to  pursue  the  steps  pointed  out  by  the  Law- 
entitled  'An  Act  in  Addition  to  an  Act  relating  to  Reli- 
gious Societies  and  Congregations'  approved  June  23d,  1847." 
An  organ,  the  first  used  in  the  Church  edifice,  was  pro- 
cured by  voluntary  subscription  in  1822.  It  was  a  small 
instrument,  but  its  advent  was  the  signal  for  considerably 
increased  interest  in  musical  affairs."'  Nine  years,  how- 
ever, outdated  the  organ  in  the  view  of  the  "singers,"  who 
petitioned  the  Society  in  183 1  for  a  new  one.  This  in  1833 
was  voted  by  a  "  tax  on  the  polls  and  ratable  estate  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Society;"  and  in  1835  the  Society  was 
able  to  celebrate  the  putting  into  its  service  an  organ  whose 
superiority  to  any  then  in  the  region  was  universally  recog- 
nized, and  which  had  few  equals  in  the  country.''  Its  inau- 
guration was  attended  by  an  exhibition  of  its  powers  by  Mr. 
George  J.  Webb,  and  by  a  lecture  on  music  by  Mr.  Lowell 
Mason  ;  and  it  was  followed  by  a  formal  vote  of  thanks  "  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Appleton  of  Boston  for  the  excellent  and  splen- 
did instrument  built  by  him  for  this  Society."  " 


^'  Mr.  Deodatus  Dutton  was  organist ;  succeeded  in  this  service  by  Mr.  The- 
odore Lyman.  Mr.  Lynde  Olmsted  was  choir  leader.  The  Jtibal  Society  ob- 
tained leave  to  "  exhibit  their  performances  "  four  times  a  year  in  the  meeting- 
house, with  the  privilege  of  taking  a  contribution. 

3^  Samuel  A.  Cooper  was  first  organist  on  the  new  instrument,  and  Benjamin 
Wade  was  choir  leader.  Mr.  Cooper  was  succeeded,  after  a  service  of  several 
years,  by  Henry  W.  Greatorex  of  London,  for  whose  services  the  organ  silently 
waited  many  weeks,  although  Mr.  Albert  Bull,  who  then  conducted  the  vocal 
services  of  the  choir,  was  regarded  as  quite  able  "to  officiate  at  the  organ  had 
not  his  extreme  modesty  forbidden.  He  had  previously  served  as  organist  at 
the  North  Church.  The  new  organ  is  said  to  have  cost  $4,000,  inclusive  of  the 
allowance  for  the  old  one. 

3*  But  Mr.  Ezekiel  Williams  found  the  "  sub-bass  "  too  much  for  his  nerves, 
and  petitioned  the  Society  in  1837  "that  the  sub-bass  of  the  Organ  may  be 
50 


394  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

New  interest  in  music  meant  almost  necessarily  agitation 
about  a  new  hymn-book.  Dwight's  edition  of  Watts'  had 
been  in  use  from  near  the  commencement  of  the  century, 
and  in  1836  the  Church  voted  to  substitute  for  it  the  Christian 
Psalmistl'"  The  Society  however  did  not  concur,  and  no 
change  was  made.  Two  years  more  saw  another  attempt. 
The  Pastor,  in  September  1838,  recommended  the  adoption 
of  Worcester's  revision  of  Watts'  psalms  and  hymns,  known 
as  Watts  and  Select,  and  a  committee  of  the  Church  was 
appointed  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration,  but  it  ap- 
parently went  no  further. 

In  1842  the  subject  was  again  brought  forward  and  a  com- 
mittee of  the  Church,  appointed  May  15  th,  reported  Decem- 
ber 28th,  recommending  the  adoption  of  Sacred  Lyrics,  a 
volume  compiled  by  Rev.  Dr.  Beaman.  This  however  went 
no  further.  In  1845  the  change  came.  Both  Church  and 
Society  voted  in  June  of  that  year,  to  introduce  "  the  edi- 
tion of  Psalms  and  Hymns  recently  prepared  and  set  forth 
by  the  General  Association  of  Connecticut."  "'  And  so  the 
ten  years'  agitated  hymn-book  question  found  temporary 
repose. 

In  March  1831,  a  committee"  was  appointed  to  sell  the 
old  conference-room  on  Temple  Street,  and  to  purchase  "  the 


dispensed  with  in  the  morning  service."  The  petition  was  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee, with  what  ultimate  result  does  not  appear. 

•''"  This  action  of  the  Church  was  the  result  of  a  meeting  held  at  the  North 
Church  June  17,  1836,  at  which  representatives  of  several  churches  were  pres- 
ent; Dr.  Hawes  acted  as  chairman,  and  "the  necessity  of  a  change  in  our 
church  psalmody  was  voted  unanimously,"  and  the  Christian  Psalmist,  with 
equal  unanimity  recommended. 

•*" "  Psalms  and  Hymns  for  Christian  Use  and  Worship,  prepared  and  set 
forth  by  the  General  Association  of  Connecticut,  1845."  Edited  by  Jeremiah 
Day,  Bennet  Tyler,  E.  T.  Fitch,  J.  Hawes,  and  Leonard  Bacon. 

■^^  Joseph  Trumbull,  Nathan  Johnson,  Richard  Bigelow,  and,  subsequently, 
Eliphalet  Averill,  in  place  of  Joseph  Trumbull,  were  appointed  the  committee. 


1818-1867.]  SOCIETY   AFFAIRS.  305 

building  and  land  owned  by  Messrs.  Wadsworth  and  Terry, 
next  north  of  the  Meeting  House;"  and  for  so  "altering  and 
repairing  the  building  as  to  accommodate  the  Sunday  School 
and  other  meetings  of  the  Society."  The  same  committee 
was  authorized  furthermore  to  "  appropriate  for  the  purpose 
the  Society  Fund"  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  raised  in 
1802,'*  and  "also  to  raise  by  subscription  and  otherwise  a 
sufficient  sum  to  complete  the  payment."  So  that  the  latter 
part  of  1832  saw  the  present  conference-room  finished  and 
in  use.'" 

In  1835  the  Society  declared  that  it  was  "expedient  to 
lower  the  Galleries  and  Pulpit  in  the  Meeting  house,"  and  to 
"  alter  the  Pews  and  Slips,  in  the  Galleries,"  the  whole  not  to 
exceed  in  expense  nineteen  hundred  dollars.  In  accordance 
with  this  vote  the  galleries  came  down  nearly  five  feet,  and 
the  pulpit,  which  had  been  lov/ered  once  before,  in  18 16,  an 
uncertain  distance  also.^" 

The  year  1839  saw  carpets  put  into  the  aisles  for  the  first 
time.^'  1845  took  out  the  stoves  hitherto  in  use  and  put  in 
furnaces.  1846  saw  the  necessity  for  a  new  bell ;  and  one 
thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  "  exclusive  of  the  old  bell 
originally  belonging  to  the  Society,"  for  a  new  one  to  be  cast 


^^  A  report  was  made  to  the  Society  by  the  committee  affirming  the  propriety 
of  so  appropriating  the  fund  of  1S02.  See  Ante,  p.  351.  The  exact  value  of 
the  fund  at  this  time  cannot  be  determined.  There  are  indications  that  it  had 
not  grown  in  accordance  with  the  plan  of  the  original  donors,  who  certainly 
gave  it  for  another  purpose,  and  perhaps  had  decreased. 

3^  The  Temple  Street  property  and  subscriptions  did  not,  however,  suffice  to 
pay  the  expenses,  and  the  Society  borrowed  |5i,6oo  additional  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Missionary  Society. 

*"  This  lowering  of  the  galleries  doubtless  necessitated  the  removal  of  the  can- 
opies over  the  Governor's  pews  ;  unless  indeed  they  had  been  previously  taken 
away  in  accordance  with  a  vote  passed  Jan.  7,  1S31,  "That  the  Committee  of  the 
Society  be  authorized,  if  they  deem  it  expedient,  to  remove  the  two  Canopies  in 
or  near  the  center  of  the  Meeting  House." 

"  At  a  cost  of  $238. 


396  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        I1S18-1867. 

by  N.  P.  Ames.  This  bell  soon  failed,  and  another  was  voted 
in  January  1850,  "not  less  than  3000  nor  more  than  4000 
pounds"  in  weight.  This  sweet-toned  bell  which  calls 
together  the  congregation  yet,  is  fondly  and  perhaps  correctly 
supposed  to  contain  in  it  the  recast  material  of  its  prede- 
cessors, inclusive  of  the  old  Newtown  bell  of  1632. 

1849  put  in  a  new  clock  into  the  tower,  for  which  i^/oo 
had  been  previously  voted.  The  year  1852  saw  extensive 
alterations  in  the  church-edifice.  A  recess  was  made  for  the 
new  pulpit,  which  now  replaced  the  twice-lowered  one  of  dark- 
colored  wood^'"  built  at  the  first  erection  of  the  house;  the 
square  pews  were  removed  and  slips  substituted  throughout 
the  building  ;  the  windows  in  the  west  end  were  closed  up, 
and  those  in  the  sides  of  the  house  enlarged ;  new  furnaces 
introduced  and  gas-fixtures  procured  ;  a  new  arch  thrown  over 
the  center  of  the  audience-room  between  the  supporting  col- 
umns, and  the  building  brought  to  substantially  its  present 
interior  aspect.'"' 


*-  Fond  tradition  calls  it  Mahogany  ;  but  Dr.  Dwight  in  describing  the  church 
(See  Truvels,\6\.  i,  p.  235)  says:  "The  pulpitis  of  varnished  wood  resembling 
light  coloured  mahogany."  And  the  construction  accounts  of  the  church  edifice, 
including  items  for  the  pulpit,  which  record  the  purchase  of  Cherry  planks  and 
boards  but  do  not  speak  of  Mahogany,  confirm  the  view  that  in  all  probability 
the  material  was  Cherry. 

•*^This  was  done  under  direction  of  a  Committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Calvin 
Day,  S.  P.  Kendall,  S.  S.  Ward  and  Erastus  Smith.  Ten  thousand  four  hund- 
red and  fifty-five  dollars  were  raised  by  subscription  for  the  purpose,  the  names 
and  sums  subscribed  being  entered  on  the  Society  Records.  See  Appendix 
XIV.  Mr.  Day  tells  these  two  anecdotes  concerning  these  repairs.  Having 
himself  headed  the  subscription  for  them  with  a  thousand  dollars,  he  took  the 
book  next  to  Judge  Williams.  The  Judge  put  his  name  down  for  five  hundred 
dollars,  and  then  handing  the  book  back  to  Mr.  Day  said:  "  If  you  will  just  let 
the  old  house  remain  as  it  is,  I'll  make  it  a  thousand." 

The  large  columns  in  the  meeting-house  were  regarded  by  many  as  a  great 
disadvantage,  obstructing  as  they  did,  and  still  do,  many  sittings  in  various 
parts  of  the  audience-room.  Mr.  Day  consulted  an  eminent  architect  as  to  the 
practicability  of  their  removal.  "  Can  you  take  them  out  ? "  he  inquired.  "  O 
yes,  certainly,"  was  the  answer.     "  What  should  you  do  then  ?"     was  the  next 


1818-1867.]  SETTLEMENT   OF   COLLEAGUE.  3^7 

But  the  Pastor  who  had  seen  all  these  and  some  subse- 
quent minor  changes,  gradually  aged.  Revivals  had  attended 
his  later  as  well  as  his  earlier  years.  One  in  1858,  as  has 
been  already  said,  added  many  members  to  the  Church.  But 
the  work  was  getting  heavy  for  hands  which  had  carried  it 
so  long.  In  January  1862  Dr.  Hawes  wrote  a  long  letter 
to  the  Church  and  Society,  in  which  he  avowed  his  conviction 
"  that  duty  to  myself  and  to  you  requires  a  change  in  the 
relation  I  have  so  long  sustained  .  .  .  The  burden  I  have  borne 
so  long  presses  too  heavily  .  .  .  Whatever  action  you  may  take 
in  the  premises  after  due  deliberation,  you  may  count  on  my 
cheerful  concurrence  in  it."  The  Society  at  its  meeting 
January  27th,  received  the  Pastor's  communication,  and  after 
recording  its  intention  to  make  a  "  suitable  annual  provision 
for  Dr.  Hawes,"  voted  : 

"That  it  is  the  desire  of  this  Society  with  the  concurrence 
of  Dr.  Hawes  to  proceed  to  call  and  settle  a  new  minister  ; 
Dr.  Hawes  still  retaining  his  pastoral  relation  to  us  but  with- 
out its  responsibility  ;  and  we  desire  to  take  measures  to 
bring  about  that  event  ;  and  that,  further,  it  is  not  our  pleas- 
ure to  settle  a  mere  colleague." 

Dr.  Hawes  replied  to  the  Society  in  a  very  long  letter 
dated  February  3,  1862.  In  this  letter  he  expresses  non- 
concurrence  with  the  Society  on  the  colleague  question ; 
argues  at  great  length  the  advantageous  character  of  such 
ministerial  relationships  ;  appeals  to  the  example  of  the  asso- 
ciation of  Hooker  and  Stone  as  illustrating  the  happy  possi- 
bilities of  such  a  connection  ;  recalls  the  fact  that  the  Society 
was  in  search  of  a  colleague  for  Dr.  Strong  when  death  inter- 
posed to  prevent  the  consummation  of  the  arrangement; 
answers    the   objection    that  colleague  pastorates  are  often 


question.     "  Then  ;  O,  then  I  should  put  them  back  again,"  was  the  architect's 
reply.     The  columns  were  not  disturbed. 


398  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

unhappy,  by  saying  that  marriage  relationships  are  often  so, 
yet  that  marriage  is  not  thereby  proved  essentially  unwise; 
and  avows  that  the  position  of  pastor  emeritus  proposed  by 
the  Society  is  "a  change  greater  than  [he]  could  at  present 
desire." 

The  well-disciplined  Society  yielded  ;  and  voted,  Feb.  7th, 

"  To  call  and  settle  an  Associate  pastor  ;  it  being  under- 
stood that  Dr.  Hawes  shall  retain  his  pastoral  relation  to  us, 
but  shall  be  relieved  of  its  duties  and  responsibilities,  which 
duties  and  responsibilities  are  to  rest  upon  the  Junior  Pastor ; 
while  it  is  desired  and  expected  by  us  that  Dr.  Hawes  will 
render  such  assistance  to  the  junior  pastor  as  his  health  and 
strength  will  permit  and  circumstances  require." 

In  pursuance  of  this  amicable  arrangement  Mr.  Phineas 
Wolcott  Calkins  was  invited  by  Church  vote  July  31st,  1862, 
and  by  Society  vote  Aug.  4th,  to  settle  with  this  Church  and 
Society  "in  the  gospel  ministry."" 

•  Mr.  Calkins  was  ordained  Associate  Pastor  of  the  Church 
and  Society,  October  21,  1862.  In  the  exercises  of  the  oc- 
casion the  Invocation  and  Reading  of  Scriptures  were  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Vermilye ;  Introductory  Prayer,  Rev.  President 
Woolsey ;  Sermon  by  Rev.  Professor  Phelps  of  Andover, 
Mass. ;  Ordaining  Prayer  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Calkins  of  Willsboro', 
Penn.  ;  Charge  to  the  Pastor  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawes ;  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship  by  Rev.  L.  L.  Paine  of  Farmington  ; 
Address  to  the  People  by  Rev.  Professor  Dwight  ;  Conclud- 
ing Prayer  by  Rev.  Eben''.  Cutler  of  Worcester,  Mass.  ;  Ben- 
ediction by  the  Associate  Pastor,  Mr.  Calkins. 

The  young  minister  thus  joined  with  Dr.  Hawes  was  born 
at  Painted   Post  (now  Corning)  New  York,  June   10,   1831. 


'*''  The  Society  voted,  at  the  same  date,  to  pay  Dr.  Hawes  $2,000  per  annum, 
till  a  new  minister  was  installed,  and  thereafter  $1,200.  The  salary  voted  to 
Mr.  Calkins  was  $2,000. 


1818-1867.]  DR.  HAWES'  OLD   AGE.  ^go 

He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1856;  was  engaged  in 
teaching  from  1856  to  1859  ;  admitted  to  the  middle  class  at 
Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1859;  continued  theological 
study  at  Halle  in  Germany  and  in  France  in  1860-1862.  He 
was  never  "licensed"  as  a  preacher. 

Mr.  Calkins  entered  upon  his  ministry  with  zeal  and  gen- 
eral acceptance.  Gifted  with  a  winning  and  effective  utter- 
ance his  congregations  were  large  and  his  preaching  success- 
ful in  winning  souls.  He  labored  with  special  earnestness 
and  utility  in  connection  with  the  Mission  services  held  in 
Washington  Hall  on  State  Street,  which  subsequently  be- 
came merged  in  the  Warburton  Mission  in  Temple  Street. 

But  for  some  reason  or  other  the  relationship  of  the  two  Pas- 
tors was  not  attended  by  all  the  harmony  which,  in  his  depict- 
ing of  the  ideal  coUeagueship,  Dr.  Hawes  had  anticipated. 
On  April  29,  1864,  Mr.  Calkins  resigned  his  associate  pastor- 
ate. On  the  5th  of  May  following,  Dr.  Hawes  communicated 
his  own  resignation,  desiring  to  retain  only  the  nominal 
connection  of  Pastor  Emeritus.  The  Church  and  Society 
voted  "  unanimously "  to  accept  the  resignation  of  Dr. 
Hawes,  and  not  to  accept  that  of  Mr.  Calkins.  On  the  17th 
of  May,  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  convened  to  take  the  ques- 
tion of  Mr.  Calkins'  resignation  into  consideration,  but  dur- 
ing its  deliberation  the  case  was  withdrawn.  Re-assembled 
however  by  call  on  the  6th  of  July,  Mr.  Calkins  was  dis- 
missed ;  both  Church  and  Society  however  putting  on 
record  —  together  with  a  warm  testimony  of  confidence  and 
affection — a  declaration  of  inability  to  find  adequate  cause  for 
sundering  the  relationship.'' 


*5  Mr.  Calkins,  after  leaving  Hartford,  became  pastor  of  Calvary  Presbj'te- 
rian  Church,  Philadelphia,  Nov.  20,  1864  until  Oct  29,  1866;  then  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  Buffalo,  Nov.  18,  1866  until  February  i,  1880;  then 


400  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

Left  in  his  position  as  Emeritus .Y2iS\.QX  of  the  Church,  Dr. 
Hawes  continued  in  that  relationship  nearly  three  years. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  fact,  and  no  utility  in  disguis- 
ing it,  that  the  events  connected  with  the  severance  of  his 
active  relations  to  his  people  were  exceedingly  trying  to  him. 
He  had  not  the  power  which  some  men  possess  of  adjusting 
himself  to  unwelcome  circumstances.  He  felt  himself  in  some 
degree  injured  and  deserted.  But  time  softened  the  severity 
of  the  emotion.  His  relations  to  his  successor,  installed  about 
six  months  later,  were  cordial  and  grew  to  be  paternal.  He 
preached  occasionally  in  the  pulpit  which  was  once  his  own  ; 
he  ministered  at  the  bed-side  of  the  sick,  and  buried  some- 
times the  dead. 

In  the  vacant  pulpits  of  the  neighborhood,  also,  his  voice 
was  often  heard  proclaiming  the  old  message  of  the  gospel. 
It  was  in  an  absence  from  home  on  one  of  these  occasions 
that  he  sickened  and  died.  He  preached  at  Gilead  June  2, 
1867;  in  the  morning  from  the  fourth  verse  of  the  thirty-ninth 
Psalm;  Lord,  make  me  to  know  mine  end,  and  the  measure  of 
my  days  zvhat  it  is,  that  I  may  knozv  how  frail  I  am  ;"  and  in 
the  afternoon  from  Matthew,  twenty-fifth  chapter,  thirty-sec- 
ond verse:  "And  before  him  shall  be  gatJiered  all  nations; 
ajid  he  shall  separate  them  one  from  another,  as  a  shepherd 
divideth  his  sheep  from  the  goats!'  Taken  ill  the  same 
evening,  he  died  on  Wednesday  morning,  June  5,  1867,  in  the 
seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age.  His  wife,  between  whom 
and  himself  there  had  always  existed  an  unusual  degree  of 
the  affection  and  dependence  belonging  to  the  relationship, 


pastor  of  Eliot  Church,  Newton,  Mass.,  Feb.  5,  1880,  where  he  still  is.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  from  Hamilton  College  in  1877.  Dr. 
Calkins  has  written  for  the  press  various  articles  in  McClintock  and  Strong''s 
Cyclopedia,  the  Presbyterian  Quarterly  and  public  journals. 


1818-1876.]  DR.  HAWES'  OLD   AGE.  4OI 

speedily  followed  him,  dying  three  days  afterward.'"  All  his 
children,  six  in  number,  had  died  before  him,  most  of  them 
in  childhood.  His  son  Erskine"  had  attained  manhood  ;  had 
entered  the  ministry ;  and  was  the  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Plymouth,  when  suddenly  taken  away  by  an  accident  in  the 
father's  seventy-first  year. 

The  funeral  services  of  the  old  Pastor  were  attended  in 
the  church  of  his  long  ministry  on  Saturday  afternoon,  June 
8th  ;  Rev.  President  Woolsey  of  Yale  College,  preaching  the 
sermon.  Two  other  sermons  suggested  by  his  life  and  death 
were  preached  by  Hartford  pastors  ;  one  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Par- 
ker of  the  Second  Church,  and  the  other  by  Rev.  George  H. 
Gould,  the  successor  of  Dr.  Hawes  in  the  First  Church  min- 
istry. His  remains  were  deposited  in  the  North  burying- 
ground  beside  those  of  his  predecessor.  Dr.  Strong." 

So  passed  away  one  of  the  strongest  and  best  ministers 
ever  settled  in  the  pastorate  of  this  Church  or  of  Con- 
necticut. Not  a  man  of  inventive,  original  genius,  but  of 
strong,  practical  intellect,  sound  judgment,  fervent  emotions, 
sincere  piety  and  genial  disposition,  he  exerted  a  moral  influ- 
ence in  the  community  and  the  State  equaled  by  almost  no 
one  beside.     A  rugged   and  vigorous  natural  eloquence,  a 


**^  The  address  at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Hawes  was  spoken  by  Rev.  Dr.  N.  J. 
Burton,  then  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Church. 

•*"  Erskine  Joel  Hawes,  born  at  Hartford  July  23,  1829 ;  admitted  member  of 
First  Church  by  profession,  June,  1848  ;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1851  ;  at 
Andover  Seminary  in  1855 ;  ordained  Pastor  at  Plymouth,  Conn.,  January  19, 
1858 ;  killed  by  the  kick  of  his  horse,  July  8,  i860.  A  memoir  of  Mr.  Hawes 
was  written  by  his  mother,  and  published  by  Robert  Carter  and  Brothers,  New 
York,  1863. 

*'^  Dr.  Hawes  left  $1,500  as  a  permanent  fund,  the  interest  of  which  was  to  be 
annually  divided  between  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missipns  and  the 
American  Home  Missionary  Society.  The  bulk  of  his  property  (about  $40,000) 
was  bequeathed,  after  the  use  of  it  by  his  wife,  to  the  children  by  a  second  mar- 
riage of  Rev.  H.  J.  Van  Lennep,  the  husband  of  his  daughter  Mary. 
SI 


402  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1818-1867. 

large  and  generous  kindness  of  nature,  a  wise  and  solid  sense 
of  temporal  and  moral  values,  an  undaunted  courage  and 
unconquerable  will,  united  to  make  him  a  man  respected  ; 
while  his  tenderness  of  feeling  and  responsiveness  to  the 
gentler  and  the  sadder  phases  of  human  need,  made  him  a 
man  beloved.  Of  singular  simplicity  of  character,  his  life 
was  consecrated  to  his  work,  and  in  it  he  had  great  success. 
Few  are  they  whose  words  and  deeds  have  turned  as  many 
to  righteousness  as  Joel  Hawes. 


CHAPTER  XV 


NOTES     OF     LATER     DAYS. 

About  two  and  a  half  years  before  Dr.  Hawes'  death  Rev. 
George  H.  Gould  was  installed  in  the  vacant  pastorate.  Mr. 
Gould  was  born  at  Oakham,  Mass.,  February  20,  1827.  He 
graduated  at  Amherst  College  in  1850,  and  at  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  1853  ;  served  as  acting  pastor  of  several 
churches,  mainly  at  the  West,  till  his  ordination,  November 
13,  1862.  He  had  charge  as  acting  pastor  of  the  Olivet 
Church  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  1863  and  '64.  In  the  autumn 
of  1864  he  was  invited  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Church 
in  Hartford,  the  Church  action  being  taken  November  14th, 
and  the  Society  November  16th.  The  public  exercises  of 
the  installation  took  place  December  14th,  the  various  parts 
being  thus  assigned  :  Invocation,  Rev.  Dr.  Vermilye,  of  the 
Connecticut  Theological  Institute ;  Reading  of  Scripture, 
Rev,  H.  M.  Parsons  of  Springfield;  Introductory  Prayer, 
Rev.  Dr.  S.  W.  S.  Dutton  of  New  Haven  ;  Sermon  by  Rev. 
Prof.  Henry  B.  Smith  of  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New 
York;  Installing  Prayer,  Rev.  Dr.  Hawes;  Charge,  Rev.  S. 
G.  Buckingham  of  Springfield  ;  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship, 
Rev.  J.  L.  Jenkins  of  the  Pearl  Street  Church  ;  Address  to 
the  People,  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon  of  New  Haven ;  Bene- 
diction by  the  Pastor.  * 

Mr.  Gould's  ministry  was  not  destined  to  be  a  protracted 
one,  but  it  was  a  profitable  one  in  the  history  of  the  Church. 


404  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.       [1864-1883. 

His  eloquent  utterances  aroused  enthusiasm  and  were  blessed 
to  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  not  a  few.  One  hun- 
dred and  six  united  with  the  Church  by  confession  of  faith, 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  by  letter  in  the  five  years 
and  ten  months  of  his  pastorate. 

During  Mr.  Gould's  pastorate  the  old  minister  Dr.  Hawes, 
between  whom  and  the  younger  man  had  existed  the  kindest 
relations,  died,  and  the  Society  in  1868  purchased  his  library 
for  the  use  of  his  successors  in  office,  and  his  house  for  a 
parsonage.' 

It  has  been  mentioned  hitherto'  that  a  Mission  had  been 
for  a  considerable  while  sustained  by  the  members  of  the 
First  Church  and  Society,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city. 

In  1865  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Warburton  built,  at  a  cost  of  ^18,- 
298,  a  chapel  upon  Temple  street,  on  land  purchased  by  the 
subscriptions  of  individual  members  of  the  First  Church  for 
$3,450.  A  charter  for  the  school  was  secured  in  May  1866. 
In  1869  the  Society  by  formal  vote,  August  27th,  took  this 
Mission  under  its  care,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the 
will  of  Mrs.  Warburton  which  bequeathed  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars, the  income  of  which  was  to  be  employed  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  preaching  services  in  the  chapel  on  condition  that  an 
equal  annual  amount  should  be  contributed  by  the  Society. 
Mrs.  Warburton's  will  also  gave  the  Society  three  thousand 
dollars  as  a  Fund  for  a  Teacher's  Library  in  the  Sunday- 
school  of  the  First  Church.  In  accordance  with  the  vote 
adopting  the  Mission,  ministerial  services  were  employed  at 
Warburton  Chapel. 

The  health  of  the  Pastor  was  so  precarious  that  on  June 


'  Dr.  Hawes'  Will  left  provision  for  the  disposal  of  the  library  to  the  Society 
for  $75.     The  house  was  purchased  of  his  estate  for  $7,500. 
2  Ante,  p.  399. 


1864-1883.]  ■     NOTES   OF   LATER   DAYS.  405 

14th,  1869,  he  communicated  his  resignation  to  the  Church, 
which  voted  that  he  be  requested  to  recall  it,  tendering  him 
the  assurance  of  assistance  in  his  labor.  The  resignation 
was  then  recalled ;  but  on  Sept.  19th,  1870,  it  was  renewed 
and  most  reluctantly  accepted.  The  Council  which  officially- 
recognized  the  termination  of  the  mutually  happ^  relation- 
ship of  Pastor  and  people  convened  on  Oct.  11,  1870.' 

In  February  1871  a  call  to  the  pastorate  was  extended  to 
Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Lord  '  of  Montpelier,  Vermont ;  the  Church 
voting  on  the  20th  of  the  month,  and  the  Society  on  the  24th. 
The  overture  was,  however,  declined. 

More  than  a  year  elapsed  in  unsuccessful  quest  of  a  pastor 
when,  on  March  i8th  and  19th,  1872,  the  Church  and  Society 
respectively  invited  to  the  vacant  office  the  Rev.  Elias  H. 
Richardson,  then  of  Westfield,  Mass. 

The  invitation  being  accepted  Mr.  Richardson  was  duly 
installed,  April  24th,  1872.  In  the  services  of  the  occasion 
the  Invocation  was  offered  by  Rev.  Myron  S.  Morris  of  West 
Hartford ;  Scripture  was  read  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Adams  of 
Wethersfield  ;  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  C.  L,  Goodell  of 
New  Britain  ;  Sermon  by  Rev.  George  Leon  Walker  of  New 
Haven  ;  Installing  Prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon  of 
New  Haven;  Charge  to  Pastor  by  Rev.  Dr.  G.  H.  Gould  of 
Worcester ;  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Gage 


**  Since  leaving  Hartford  Dr.  Gould  has  never  assumed  the  duties  of  an 
installed  pastor.  He  has,  however,  quite  continuously  supplied  various  pulpits, 
and  stood  in  the  relation  of  acting  pastor  to  the  Piedmont  Church  in  Worcester, 
Mass.,  from  1872  to  1876,  and  to  the  Union  Church  in  the  same  city  from  1878 
to  1880.  He  at  present  resides  in  Worcester.  He  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  in  Divinity  from  Amherst  College  in  1S70,  while  still  pastor  in 
Hartford. 

*  Rev.  William  Hayes  Lord,  D.D. ;  born  at  Amherst,  N.  H.,  1824;  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  College,  1843;  ^^'^  Andover  Seminary,  1846;  ordained  pastor  at 
Montpelier,  Vt.,  Sept.  20,  1847 ;  continuing  pastor  there  till  his  death,  March 
18,  1877. 


4o6  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD.        [1864-1883. 

of  Pearl  Street  Church ;  Address  to  People  by  Rev.  Dr.  N. 
J.  Burton  of  Park  Church  ;  Benediction  by  the  Pastor. 

Mr.  Richardson  was  born  at  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  Aug.  1 1,  1827, 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1850,  and  at  Andover  in 

1853.  He  was  Pastor,  successively,  at  Goffstown  and  Ando- 
ver, N.  H.,  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  Westfield,  Mass.  He 
came  to  this  pastorate  in  his  forty-fifth  year  of  age,  and 
fulfilled  in  it  a  most  laborious  and  faithful  ministry  of  about 
six  years  and  eight  morrths. 

The  situation  of  affairs  in  the  old  First  Society  was  not 
without  its  difficulties.  For  years  the  tendency  of  popula- 
tion had  been  to  other  parts  of  the  town  at  a  distance  from 
the  church  edifice.  This  had  been  a  source  of  anxiety  to 
Dr.  Hawes  in  his  later  days.  It  could  hardly  fail  to  be  so 
to  Dr.  Hawes'  successors  who  saw  the  tendency  increasing 
annually.  The  vacancy  in  the  pastorate,  for  more  than  a 
year  after  Dr.  Gould's  removal,  witnessed  the  withdrawal  to 
churches  nearer  their  new  dwelling-places  of  some  families 
whose  religious  home  had  been  under  the  old  roof.  The  dif- 
ficulty is  one  which  is  incident  to  the  geographical  situation 
of  the  old  Society,  and  cannot  fail  to  be  an  important  factor 
in  its  future  history.  Mr.  Richardson  addressed  himself  to 
the  problem  of  holding  the  old  and  winning  the  new  with 
energy.  He  had  somewhat  special  gifts  for  attracting  the 
young  and  for  drawing  to  himself  those  toward  whom  life 
was  accustomed  to  show  the  shadier  rather  than  the  sunnier 
side.  He  was  unwearied  in  his  endeavors  to  be  of  use,  to 
be  a  helper,  and  to  be  so  especially  to  the  poor. 

•  The  records  of  the  Church  show  the  results  of  his  faithful 
endeavors.  One  hundred  and  sixty  were  added  to  its  mem- 
bership by  profession  during  his  pastorate,  and  one  hundred 
and  eighteen  by  letter. 


1864-1883.]  NOTES   OF   LATER   DAYS.  407 

'  To  meet  the  long-felt  want  of  a  more  convenient  place  for 
social  gatherings  and  for  the  smaller  evening  meetings  of  the 
congregation,  the  Society  in  1875,  at  an  expense  of  about  six 
thousand  dollars  raised  by  voluntary  subscription,  erected  a 
new  building  abutting  upon  the  old  conference  house,  to 
supply  the  important  need.  In  1873,  also,  an  extension  of 
the  Warburton  Chapel  building,  designed  for  the  use  of  the 
primary  department  of  the  school,  was  built  under  the  super- 
intendency  of  Messrs.  George  C.  and  Edward  H.  Perkins, 
at  an  expense  of  $2,900,  bequeathed  by  Mrs.  Charles  Hosmer 
for  this  purpose. 

During  Dr.'  Richardson's  pastorate  occurred  the  series  of 
meetings  held  in  Hartford  under  the  leadership  of  Mr,  D. 
L.  Moody  and  subsequently  of  Rev.  George  H.  Pentecost, 
in  the  winter  of  1877-8.  In  connection  with  these  meetings 
and  partly  as  their  direct  consequence  a  large  numerical 
accession  was  made  to  the  membership  of  the  Hartford 
churches.  About  seventy-five  names  were  added  to  the 
roll  of  this  Church  as  such  result. 

Dr.  Richardson  left  the  marks  of  his  own  earnest  sincer- 
ity deeply  engraved  on  many  of  the  younger  members  of  this 
fellowship,  who  first  of  all  think  of  him  when  they  think  of 
their  guide  to  Christian  living.  He  was  a  man  of  quick  and 
keen  intellectual  perceptions,  of  warm  and  impulsive  feel- 
ings, of  delicate  sensibilities  and  devout  piety.  Something 
however  in  an  original  temperamental  contrast  between  the 
Pastor  and  the  people,  discreditable  to  neither,  but  prevent- 
ive of  the  fullest  satisfaction  possible  to  both,  made  the  rela- 
t;^onship  less  congenial  in  some  of  its  aspects,  than  is 
occasionally  the  case. 


^  He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  in   Divinity  during  his  pastorate  here, 
from  Dartmouth  College  in  1876. 


4o8  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD.        [1864-1883. 

In  December  1878,  Dr.  Richardson  resigned  his  pastorate 
here  to  accept  that  of  the  First  Church  in  New  Britain, 
which  had  been  tendered  him.  He  was  dismissed  here  on 
the  23d  of  that  month,  and  installed  there  January  7,  1879. 

His  pastorate  at  New  Britain  was  eminently  useful  and 
happy.  He  was  cut  off  from  it  in  the  full  prime  of  his  vigor 
and  success,  dying  honored  and  beloved  on  the  27th  of  June 
1883,  and  being  buried  among  the  people  of  his  latest  pas- 
toral charge.  A  funeral  address  on  that  occasion  was  pro- 
nounced by  Rev.  N.  J.  Burton,  D.D.,  of  this  city,  and  on  the 
following  Sabbath  a  biographical  discourse  concerning  Dr. 
Richardson's  life  and  character  was  delivered  in  the  Pearl 
Street  Church  by  Rev.  Dr.  W.  L.  Gage.  He  was  the  first 
of  the  ministers  of  this  Church  to  die  elsewhere  than  in 
Hartford  or  to  be  buried  elsewhere  than  in  Hartford  soil. 

A  memorial  volume,  compiled  by  a  committee  of  the  First 
Church  in  New  Britain,  printed  shortly  after  his  death  for 
circulation  among  his  friends,  fitly  enshrines  the  memory  of 
a  good  man  and  a  faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  present  Pastor  was  installed  February  27,  1879.' 

Among  the  incidents  which  may  be  mentioned  as  having 
occurred  during  the  existing  pastorate,  is  the  payment  in 
the  autumn  of  1879  of  the  long  accumulating  debt  of  the 
Society,  then  amounting  to  about  $23,000, — a  debt  going 
back  in  considerable  portion  to  the  purchase  of  pews  by  the 
Society,  beginning  in  1828.' 


^  The  public  exercises  of  the  occasion  were  held  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day, 
and  were  as  follows:  Reading  the  Result  of  the  Council,  by  Rev.  E.  C.  Starr, 
of  the  Wethersfield  Avenue  Church;  Scripture  Reading  and  Prayer,  Rev.  E. 
Y.  Hincks,  Portland,  Me.;  Sermon  (afterwards  published)  by  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard 
Bacon  of  New  Haven,  from  Rev.  ii,  13  ;  Installing  Prayer,  Rev.  Dr.  N.  J.  Bur- 
ton ;  Charge,  Rev.  Prof.  W.  M.  Barbour  of  Yale  College  ;  Fellowship  of  the 
Churches,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  P.  Parker;  Address  to  People,  Rev.  Dr.  G.  H.  Gould  ; 
Prayer,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  H.  Richardson  of  New  Britain ;  Benediction  by  the  Pastor. 

'  Ante^  p.  392.  A  list  of  the  subscribers  to  the  extinguishment  of  this  debt 
may  be  found  in  Appendix  XV. 


1864-1883.]  NOTES   OF   LATER   DAYS.  4O9 

New  windows  of  stained  glass  were  introduced  throughout 
the  church  edifice  in  the  autumn  of  1880;  and  on  Easter 
Sabbath  morning,  in  April  1881,  a  large  memorial  window 
back  of  the  pulpit,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Samuel  Hamilton,  was 
first  beheld.* 

Early  in  1883  the  attention  of  the  Church  and  Society  was 
directed  to  the  propriety  of  the  due  celebration  of  the  Two 
Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the 
Church,  and  committees  on  the  subject  were  appointed.  A 
strong  degree  of  interest  in  the  subject  was  developed,  and 
the  occasion  was  regarded  as  affording  opportunity  for  secur- 
ing certain  renovations  of  the  appearance  of  the  church 
edifice  and  conference-room,  which  were  deemed  desirable. 
Liberal  contributions  were  given  for  the  object  and  both 
interiors  were  tastefully  and  beautifully  frescoed."  The 
question  of  a  new  organ  had  been  referred  by  the  Society  to 
a  committee  at  the  annual  meeting  of  this  year,  but  all 
necessity  of  effort  was  superseded  by  the  generous  offer  of 
Mrs.  Leonard  Church,  to  present  one  as  a  memorial  of  her- 
self and  her  husband  to  the  Society.  This  liberal  purpose 
was  carried  out  at  an  expense  to  that  lady  of  $15,000.  The 
beautiful  old  mahogany  case  of  the  organ  of  1835  was  re- 
tained. '" 

Hon.  Julius  Catlin  caused  about  the  same  time  the  inser- 
tion of  a  beautiful  memorial  window. 

These  and  various  other  preparations  having  been  made 
in  the  summer  months  of  1883,  the  commemorative  celebra- 


^  Mr.  Hamilton  died  on  the  May  nth  following,  aged  82  years. 

^  These  improvements  were  carried  out  under  the  direction  of  the  Society's 
committee,  Messrs.  W.  W.  House,  J.  C.  Parsons,  and  C.  A.  Jewell. 

''*  The  organ  was  built  by  Mr.  Hilborne  L.  Roosevelt  of  New  York,  and  cer- 
tain particulars  concerning  the  really  magnificent  instrument  may  be  found  in 
Appendix  XVI. 
52 


4IO 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


tion  of  the  organization  of  the  Church  took  place,  with 
entire  satisfaction  to  the  members  of  the  congregation  and 
the  large  number  of  invited  guests,  on  October  nth  and 
1 2th.  A  full  report  of  the  proceedings  appeared  in  the 
Courautoi  the  I2th  and  13th,  and  a  handsome  memorial  vol- 
ume containing  them  in  a  form  suited  to  permanent  preser- 
vation, and  illustrated  by  various  heliotype  engravings,  was 
soon  after  published  at  the  cost  of  the  subscribed  celebration 
fund." 

One  of  the  most  saddening  considerations  arising  from 
such  a  retrospect  as  has  been  attempted  in  the  foregoing 
pages,  is  the  inevitable  necessity  of  passing  over  unrecorded 
the  faithfulness  and  devotion  of  a  multitude  whose  lives 
have  been  woven  into  the  life  of  this  ancient  Church.  It 
touches  one  with  a  sense  of  pathos  and  almost  of  anger 
to  think  how  much  of  sweetness  and  nobleness  in  private 
piety  in  all  these  years  ;  how  much  of  faithfulness  and  self- 
sacrifice,  of  parental  solicitude  and  of  individual  consecrated 
endeavor  in  the  brotherhood  of  this  Church  has  been  passed 
over  untold;  nay,  has  perished  utterly  from  human  remem- 
brance. The  deeds,  the  experiences,  the  hopes,  the  cares, 
and  even  the  names  of  this  two-and-a-half-century  compan- 
ionship are,  and  must  forever  remain,  unknown. 

But  unrecorded  in  the  memories  of  men,  they  abide  in  the 
better  registry  of  His  mind  and  heart  who  in  all  this  dura- 
tion has  been  this  Church's  euide  and  head. 


•'  For  the  Order  of  Exercises  on  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  see  Appen- 
dix XVII.  That  programme  will  indicate  to  a  large  extent  the  contents  of  the 
memorial  volume.  All  the  addresses  and  papers  were  printed  in  it,  together 
with  an  account  of  Preliminary  Proceedings  on  the  part  of  Church  and  Soci- 
ety; Letters  of  Invited  Guests;  and  Heliotype  Illustratiotis  of  the  Extet-ior  and 
Interior  of  the  Present  Church  Edifice,  the  Old  Burying  Ground,  and  the  Char- 
ter Oak  ;  to  which  were  added  also  Card  of  Invitation,  a  copy  of  Porter'' s  Map 
of  Hartford  in  1640,  and  Portraits  of  Pastors  Strong,  Hawes,  Calkins,  Gould, 
Richardson,  and  Walker.  The  volume  is  of  215  pages,  and  six  hundred  copies 
were  printed. 


1S64-1883.]  NOTES   OF   LATER   DAYS.  4II 

What  the  future  of  this  Church's  history  is  to  be,  only 
time  can  unfold.  Certain  obvious  facts  make  the  course  of 
events  even  harder  to  forecast  than  is  sometimes  the  case. 
The  tendency  of  population  away  from  the  old  central  por- 
tion of  the  town  seems  destined  to  increase.  The  numbers 
of  elderly  men  and  women  in  the  congregation  who  cannot 
long  remain,  but  who  in  their  regretted  departure  will  leave 
no  lineal  representatives  behind  them,  is  certainly  quite  unu- 
sual in  churches  of  younger  history. 

Meantime,  with  a  membership  of  about  five  hundred  and 
fifty,  enriched  still  with  new  blood  from  the  old  veins  and 
by  accessions  from  the  community  around  ;  possessed  yet  as 
a  Society  of  large  though  of  diminished  wealth  and  rich 
with  the  traditions  of  the  past,  there  is  no  occasion  for  these 
pages  to  conclude  in  a  somber  strain.  Piety  and  liberality 
still  have  their  home  in  the  old  fellowship.  Faithful  laborers 
in  the  Sabbath'"  and  Mission  School"  are  still  untiring  in 
their  work.  The  past,  though  in  much  of  it  an  occasion  of 
reasonable  pride,  is  not  an  experience  to  be  repeated  or  to  be 
desired  could  it  come  again.  The  kingdom  of  God  is  yet 
future.  And  for  a  share  in  the  labor  and  faith  which  looks 
for  it  and  hastens  its  approach,  the  old  First  Church  of  Hart- 
ford may  be  trusted  still  to  claim  an  inherited  and  a  loyally 
appropriated  right. 


'"^  It  is  certainly  worthy  of  record  that  the  infant  class  of  the  Sunday-School, 
still  large  and  flourishing,  has  been  for  forty-four  years  under  the  charge  of  one 
faithful  laborer,  Mrs.  Amelia  W.  Brown  ;  thus  loved  and  honored  by  successive 
generations  of  the  young  of  the  Church. 

'3  The  altered  character  of  the  population  in  the  vicinity  of  Warburton  Chapel 
has  demonstrated  (after  repeated  experiments)  the  impossibility  of  maintaining 
successfully,  formal  preaching  services  in  accordance  with  the  precise  terms  of 
Mrs.  Warburton's  bequest.  As  a  mission  field,  however,  the  needs  were  never 
greater.  With  altered  character  the  work  is  and  will  continue  to  be  carried  on. 
Nor  was  it  ever  more  earnestly  prosecuted  than  under  the  leadership  of  the 
Superintendent,  who  now  for  some  years  has  given  to  it  so  much  of  time, 
money,  and  care — Mr.  Daniel  R.  Howe. 


PASTORS  AND  CHURCH  OFFICERS. 


PASTORS. 


Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  was  ordained  Pastor  October  ii,  1633,  and 
died  July  7,  1647,  in  the  6istyear  of  his  age,  having  served  the  Church 
thirteen  years  and  nine  months. 

Rev.  Samuel  Stone  was  ordained  Teacher  October  11,  1633,  and 
died  July  20,  1663,  in  his  6ist  year,  having  served  the  Church  twenty- 
nine  years  and  nine  months,  of  which  thirteen  years  and  nine  n^onths 
were  in  connection  with  Mr.  Hooker  ;  thirteen  years  he  had  sole  charge 
of  the  Church,  and  about  three  years  in  connection  with  his  associate 
and  successor.  Rev.  John  Whiting. 

Rev.  John  Whiting  was  ordained  colleague  with  Mr.  Stone  early  in 
1660,  and  served  the  Church  ten  years,  till  February  22,  1670,  when  he 
became  Pastor  of  the  Second  Church  in  Hartford.  Of  the  ten  years  of 
Mr.  Whiting's  service,  about  three  were  in  connection  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Stone  ;  three  years  he  was  sole  Pastor,  and  four  years  were  in  connec- 
tion with  his  associate  and  successor  Rev.  Mr.  Haynes.  He  died 
November  1689,  aged  50  years. 

Rev.  Joseph  Haynes  was  ordained  colleague  with  Mr.  Whiting 
sometime  in  1664,  and  died  May  24,  1679,  aged  38  years.  He  served 
the  Church  fifteen  years,  four  years  in  connection  with  Mr.  Whiting, 
and  eleven  as  sole  Pastor. 

Rev.  Isaac  Foster  was  ordained  Pastor  early  in  1680,  and  died 
August  20,  1682,  aged  about  30  years,  having  served  the  Church  two 
years  and  some  months. 

Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  after  having  ministered  to  the  congre- 
gation more  than  two  years,  was  ordained  Pastor  November  16S5,  and 
died  April  30,  1732,  aged  79  years,  having  sustained  the  Pastoral  rela- 
tion forty-six  years  and  six  months,  and  ministered  to  the  Church  nearly 
forty-nine  years. 

Rev.  Daniel  Wadsworth  was  ordained  Pastor  September  28, 
I732,  and  died  November  12,  1747,  in  the  43d  year  of  his  age,  having 
served  the  Church  fifteen  years  and  two  months. 


PASTORS   AND   CHURCH   OFFICERS. 


413 


Rev.  Edward  Dorr  was  ordained  Pastor  April  27,  1748,  and  died 
October  20,  1772,  in  his  50th  year,  having  served  the  Church  twenty- 
four  years  and  five  months. 

Rev.  Nathan  Strong  was  ordained  Pastor  January  5,  1774,  and 
died  December  25,  1816,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age,  having  served  the 
Church  forty-two  years  and  eleven  months. 

Rev.  Joel  Hawes  was  ordained  Pastor  March  4,  1818;  resigned  the 
Pastoral  care  May  5,  1864  ;  and  died  June  5,  1867,  in  the  78th  year  of 
his  age,  having  sustained  pastoral  relations  to  the  Church  forty-nine 
years  and  three  months,  of  which  period  he  was  sole  Pastor  forty-four 
years  and  seven  months,  senior  Pastor  one  year  and  six  months,  and 
Pastor  emeritus  three  years. 

Rev.  Wolcott  Calkins  was  ordained  Associate  Pastor  with  Dr. 
Hawes  October  22,  1862,  and  dismissed  July  6,  1864,  having  served  the 
Church  as  Associate  Pastor  one  year  and  nine  months. 

Rev.  George  H.  Gould  was  installed  Pastor  December  14,  1864, 
and  dismissed  October  11,  1870,  having  served  the  Church  five  years 
and  ten  months. 

Rev.  Elias  H.  Richardson  was  installed  Pastor  April  24,  1872,  and 
dismissed  January  i,  1879,  having  served  the  Church  six  years  and 
eight  months. 

Rev.  George  Leon  Walker  was  installed  Pastor  February  27, 
1879. 

RULING  ELDER. 

William  Goodwin,  in  office,  it  is  supposed,  October  11,  1633,  and 
who  removed  from  Hartford  in  1660,  and  died  in  March,  1673. 

DEACONS. 

Andrew   Warner,  in  office  October  1633,  removed   to    Hadley,    Mass. 

with  Elder  Goodwin,  in  1660,  where  he  died,  1684.    . 
Edward  Stebbins,  died  August  1668. 
Joseph  Mygat,  died  1680,  aged  84. 
Richard  Butler,  died  August  1684. 

Paul  Peck,  chosen  April  1691,  died  December  1695,  aged  87. 
Joseph  Easton,  chosen  April  1691,  died  January  171 2. 
Joseph  Olmstead,  chosen  April  1691,  died  November  1726. 
John  Sheldon,  chosen  1712,  died  February  1734. 
John  Shepherd,  chosen  1712,  died  March  1736. 
Thomas  Richards,  chosen  1712,  died  April  1749,  aged  S3. 
Nathaniel  Goodwin,  chosen  March  1734,  died  March  1747,  aged  79. 
John  Edwards,  chosen  March  1734,  died  May  1769,  aged  75. 
Joseph  Talcott,  chosen  December  1748,  died  November  1799,  ^g^^  98 


414 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


Ozias  Goodwin,  chosen  January  1756,  died  January  1776,  aged  87. 

Daniel  Goodwin,  chosen  1769,  died  January  1772,  aged  6"]. 

Benjamin  Payne,  died  January  1782,  aged  54. 

John  Shepard,  died  April  1789,  aged  80. 

Solomon  Smith,  died  April  1786,  aged  52. 

Caleb  Bull,  died  P^ebruary  1797,  aged  51. 

Ezra  Corning,  died  July  18 16,  aged  79. 

Isaac  Bull,  chosen  1789,  died  November  1824,  aged  84. 

Joseph  Steward,  chosen  1797,  died  April  1822,  aged  69. 

Aaron  Chapin,  chosen  October  181 3,  died  December  1838,  aged  85. 

Aaron  Colton,  chosen  October  1813,  died  June  1840,  aged  81. 

Josiah  Beckwith,  chosen  October  1813,  died  January  1827,  aged  64. 

Russell  Bunce,  chosen  November  1821,  died  April  1846,  aged  69. 

William   W.    Ellsworth,  chosen    November    1821,  died  January  1868, 

aged  79. 
William  W.  Turner,  chosen  September  1828,  resigned  October  1852. 
Thomas    S.    Williams,    chosen    October    1836,    died    December    1861, 

aged  84. 
Thomas  Smith,  chosen  March  1838,  resigned  October  1852. 
Melvin  Copeland,  chosen  September  1840,  died  March  1866,  aged  69. 
John  Beach,  chosen  August  1844,  resigned  October  1852. 
Lewis  Weld,  chosen  November  1846,  died  December  1853,  aged  57. 
Samuel  S.  Ward,  chosen  November  1852,  died  December  1879,  aged  7^- 
Bryan  E.  Hooker,  chosen  November  1852,  resigned  March  1874. 
Loyal  Wilcox,  chosen  January  1854,  resigned  January  1861. 
George  W.  Corning,  chosen  January  1854. 

Samuel  M.  Capron,  chosen  February  1861,  left  by  letter  July  1866. 
CoUins  Stone,  chosen  December  1863,  died  December  1870,  aged  58. 
Daniel  W.  Brigham,  chosen  December  1863,  left  by  letter  June  1870. 
Rowland  Swift,  chosen  May  1867,  resigned  February  1874. 
Homer  Blanchard,  chosen  November  1869. 

Lucius  Barbour,  chosen  November  1869,  died  February  1873,  aged  67. 
William  S.  Hurd,  chosen  March  1874,  died  July  1876,  aged  67. 
William  W.  House,  chosen  March  1S74,  term  expired  1878. 
Henry  P.  Stearns,  chosen  March  1874,  term  expired  1879. 
William  H.  Miller,  chosen  March  1874,  term  expired  1880. 
John  Allen,  chosen  March  1878,  term  expired  1884. 
William  W.  House,  chosen  January  1879,  term  expired  1882. 
Daniel  R.  Howe,  chosen  February  1880,  term  expired  1881. 
Henry  P.  Stearns,  chosen  February  1880,  term  expired  1883. 
Rowland  Swift,  chosen  February  1881. 
Henry  E.  Taintor,  chosen  February  1882. 
W.  W.  House,  chosen  February  1883. 
Samuel  M.  Hotchkiss,  chosen  February  1884. 


PASTORS   AND  CHURCH   OFFICERS. 
PRUDENTIAL  COMMITTEE. 

[Committee  constituted  by  vote  of  Church  September  7,  1821.] 

Russell  Bunce,  chosen  September  1821,  chosen  deacon  1821. 

William  W.  Ellsworth,  chosen  September  1821,  chosen  deacon  182 

Normand  Smith,  chosen  September  1821,  left  ofifice  1823. 

Caleb  Goodwin,  chosen  September  1821,  left  office  1823. 

James  R.  Woodbridge,  chosen  September  1821,  left  office  1823. 

Henry  Hudson,  chosen  September  1821,  left  office  1841. 

William  Watson,  chosen  January  1824,  left  office  November  1836. 

Peter  Thatcher,  chosen  January  1824,  left  office  1845. 

Eli  Oilman,  chosen  January  1824,  left  office  1842. 

Roderick  Terry,  chosen  January  1824,  left  office  1832. 

Robert  Anderson,  chosen  January  1824,  left  office  1832. 

Melvin  Copeland,  chosen  January  1832,  left  office  1835. 

James  R.  Woodbridge,  chosen  January  1832,  left  office  1837. 

Lewis  Weld,  chosen  February  1835,  ^^^^  office  1838. 

Edward  Goodwin,  chosen  January  1837,  died  October  1883. 

Thomas  Smith,  chosen  January  1837,  chosen  deacon  1838. 

Barzillai  Hudson,  chosen  March  1838,  left  office  1871. 

Whiting  Hollister,  chosen  March  1838,  left  office  1843. 

John  Beach,  chosen  January  1842,  chosen  deacon  1844. 

Calvin  Day,  chosen  January  1843. 

Bela  Turner,  chosen  January  1844,  left  office  1845. 

Henry  A.  Perkins,  chosen  January  1845,  left  office  1866. 

James  M.  Bunce,  chosen  January  1846,  left  office  1852. 

John  O.  Pitkin,  chosen  January  1846,  left  office  1851. 

Collins  Stone,  chosen  January  185 1,  left  office  1852. 

Charles  A.  Goodrich,  chosen  January  1853,  left  office  1858. 

William  W.  House,  chosen  January  1853,  chosen  deacon  1874. 

Loyal  Wilcox,  chosen  January  1853,  chosen  deacon  1854. 

Leonard  Church,  chosen  January  1859,  left  office  1872. 

Lucius  Barbour,  chosen  February  1866,  chosen  deacon  1869. 

Alfred  R.  Skinner,  chosen  February  1870,  left  office  1879. 

William  S.  Hurd,  chosen  February  1872,  chosen  deacon  1874. 

James  P.  Foster,  chosen  February  1873,  left  office  1876. 

George  Roberts,  chosen  February  1875,  left  office  1878. 

William  M.  Hudson,  chosen  February  1875. 

John  Allen,  chosen  February  1876,  chosen  deacon  1878. 

Samuel  M.  Hotchkiss,  chosen  March  1878,  chosen  deacon  1884. 

Melancthon  Storrs,  chosen  March  1879. 

Francis  B.  Cooley,  chosen  March  1880. 

Daniel  H.  Wells,  chosen  February  1884. 

George  R.  Shepherd,  chosen  February  1884. 


415 


APPENDICES 


53 


APPENDIX    I. 

(see  page  87.) 


ORIGINAL   PROPRIETORS    AND   SETTLERS. 

The  names  which  follow  are  taken  from  a  list  in  the  handwriting  of 
John  Allyn,  and  certified  to  by  him  on  the  Town  Records  in  1665,  which 
list  was  by  him  copied  from  a  record  made  in  1639,  now  only  partially 
decipherable,  giving  the  names  of  "  The  proprietors  of  the  undivided 
lands  in  Hartford."  The  figures  annexed  to  the  names  are  in  part 
transferred  from  the  original  first  record,  and  express  the  amount  of 
land  allotted  in  divisions  made  at  two  different  times,  according  to  the 
"proportions  payed  for  the  purchass  of  sayd  lands." 


Mr.  John  Haines, 

200. 

John  Crow, 

40, 

20. 

Mr.  George  Willis, 

200. 

John  Moodey, 

40. 

Mr.  Edward  Hopkins, 

120. 

Thomas  Standley, 

42. 

Mr.  Thomas  Wells, 

100. 

Timothy  Standley, 

36, 

32. 

Mr.  John  Webster, 

100. 

Edward  Stebbing, 

28, 

24. 

Mr,  Thomas  Hooker, 

80. 

Andrew  Bacon, 

28. 

Mr.  Samuel  Stone, 

40. 

John  Bernard, 

24. 

Mr.  Wm.  Goodwine, 

56. 

Gregory  Winterton, 

28. 

Mr.    Wm.  Whittinge, 

100. 

Samuel  Wakeman, 

35, 

30. 

Mr.  Matthew  Allyn, 

no. 

William  Gibbons, 

22, 

20. 

Mr.  John  Tallcott, 

93 

John  Pratt, 

26. 

James  Olmsteed, 

75,  70. 

Richard  Goodman, 

26. 

William  Westwood, 

80. 

Nathaniel  Elly, 

20, 

18. 

William  Pantrey, 

85,  80. 

William  Ruscoe, 

35, 

32. 

Andrew  Warner, 

84. 

James  Ensigne, 

24. 

John  Steele, 

50,  48. 

John  Hopkins, 

26, 

24. 

Nathaniel  Warde, 

56,  60. 

George  Steele, 

26. 

John  White, 

50. 

Steven  Post, 

30, 

24. 

WiUiam  Wadsworth, 

52. 

Thomas  Judd, 

25, 

20. 

Thomas  Hosmore, 

58,  60. 

Thomas  Birchwood, 

26. 

Thomas  Scott, 

42. 

John  Clarke, 

28, 

22. 

William  Lewis, 

40,  38. 

Matthew  Marvell, 

30, 

28. 

William  Spencer, 

30,  40. 

William  Butler, 

28. 

William  Andrewes, 

33,  30- 

Thomas  Lord, 

28. 

Steven  Heart, 

40. 

John  Skinner, 

22, 

10. 

420 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


John'Marsh, 

24, 

12. 

Thomas  Stanton, 

16,  14. 

Richard  Lord^ 

18. 

Thomas  Hales, 

10. 

Richard  Webb, 

30. 

Zachary  Field, 

10. 

John  Maynard, 

14. 

Thomas  Roote, 

8,6. 

William  Kellsey, 

16. 

William  Parker 

13,  12. 

Jeremy  Adams, 

30- 

Seth  Grant, 

14- 

Robert  Daye, 

14. 

William  Pratt, 

8,  6. 

Thomas  Spencer, 

15, 

14. 

Samuel  Hales, 

8. 

Nathaniel  Richards, 

26. 

Richard  Olmsteed, 

10,8. 

Richard  Lyman, 

30- 

John  Baysey, 

14. 

Joseph  Mygatt, 

20. 

Joseph  Easton, 

10. 

William  Blumfield, 

16. 

Thomas  Selden, 

6. 

Richard  Butler, 

16. 

Frances  Andrewes 

10,  12. 

Georcje  Grave, 

24. 

Richard  Church, 

20,  12. 

Arthur  Smith, 

14. 

William  Hide, 

20,  18. 

William  Hill, 

20. 

Richard  Wrisley, 

8. 

Thomas  Olcok, 

32,8. 

William  Holton, 

12. 

James  Coale, 

12, 

10. 

Robert  Bartlett, 

8. 

John  Arnold, 

16. 

Edward  Elmer, 

14,  12. 

Thomas  Bull, 

14, 

12. 

Jonathan  Ince. 

George  Stocking, 

20. 

John  Cullick, 

58,  30. 

William  Heyden, 

14. 

John  Higginson, 

12. 

Nicholas  Clarke, 

13, 

12. 

There  was  another  class  of  settlers,  concerning  whom  Mr.  AUyn, 
before  recording  their  names,  makes  the  following  entry:  "The  names 
of  such  inhabitants  as  were  granted  lotts  to  have  onely  at  the  town's 
courtesie,  with  liberty  to  fetch  wood  and  keepe  swine  or  cowes  on  the 
Common." 


John  Brunson, 

10,  3- 

Hosea  Goodwin, 

10,  6. 

John  Warner, 

6. 

Robert  Wade, 

6,4. 

William  Cornwell, 

8. 

John  Olmsteed, 

4,3. 

Thomas  Woodford, 

8,6. 

Benjamin  Munn, 

8. 

John  Bidden, 

6,4. 

Daniel  Garwood, 

6. 

Ralph  Keylor, 

6. 

John  Hall, 

6. 

Thomas  Lord,  Jr., 

6. 

John  Morrice, 

8,6. 

John  Hollaway, 

6. 

Nathaniel  Barding, 

6. 

Nathaniel  Kellog, 

6,4. 

John  Ginnings, 

6. 

Thomas  Barnes, 

6. 

Paul  Pecke, 

8. 

Richard  Seymour, 

George  Hubbard, 

6. 

John  Purcasse, 

6. 

Thomas  Blisse, 

6. 

William  Phillips, 

8,6. 

Thomas  Blisse,  Jr., 

4. 

Nicholas  Disbroe, 

6. 

Edward  Lay, 

6. 

Benjamin  Burre, 

6. 

Thomas  Gridley, 

6. 

John  Sables, 

API 

6. 

TDIX   I. 

Henry  Walkley, 

John  Pierce, 

4, 

3- 

Thomas  Upson, 

Giles  Smith, 

8. 

Widdowe  Belts, 

Richard  Watts, 

8, 

6. 

Thomas  Bunce, 

William  Westley, 

8, 

6. 

William  Watts, 

Thomas  Richards, 

8. 

421 

4- 
4- 
4- 
13- 
4- 


In  addition  to  the  above,  it  appears  to  be  in  evidence  tliat  the  follow- 
ing named  persons  owned  lots  previous  to  1639,  or  took  the  shares  of 
some  of  the  foregoing  persons  on  forfeiture  at  a  period  shortly  later : 

Bartholomew  Greene,  Samuel  Whitehead, 

John  Stone,  John  Friend, 

Samuel  Greenliill,  Abram  Pratt, 

Clement  Chapling,  Thomas  Goodfellow, 

Dorothy  Chester,  Thomas  Muuson, 

Thomas  Beale,  Thomas  Hongerforth, 

Thomas  Fisher,  Reynold  Marvin. 


APPENDIX  II. 

(SEE  PAGE    115.) 
THOMAS    hooker's    WILL   AND   INVENTORY   OF    ESTATE. 

The  last  Will  and  Testament  of  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  late  of  Hart- 
ford, deceased. 

I,  Thomas  Hooker,  of  Hartford,  vppon  Connecticutt  in  New  England, 
being  weake  in  my  body,  through  the  tender  visitation  of  the  Lord,  but 
of  sound  and  perfect  memory,  doe  dispose  of  that  outward  estate  I  haue 
beene  betrusted  withall  by  him,  in  manner  following  : — 

I  doe  giue  vnto  my  sonne  John  Hooker,  my  bowsing  and  lands  in 
Hartford,  aforesaid,  both  that  which  is  on  the  west  and  allso  that  w'l  is 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Riuer,  to  bee  inioyed  by  him  and  his  heires  for 
euer,  after  the  death  of  my  wife,  Susanna  Hooker,  provided  hee  bee  then 
at  the  age  of  one  and  twenty  yeares  ;  it  being  my  will  that  my  said  deare 
wife  shall  inioye  and  possess  my  said  bowsing  and  lands  during  her  nat- 
urall  life :  And  if  shee  dye  before  my  sonne  John  come  to  the  age  of 
one  and  twenty  yeares,  that  the  same  bee  improued  by  the  oui'seers  of 
this  my  will  for  the  maintenance  and  education  of  my  children  not  dis- 
posed of,  according  to  their  best  discretion. 

I  doe  allso  giue  vnto  my  sonne  John,  my  library  of  printed  bookes  and 
manuscripts,  vnder  the  limitations  and  provisoes  hereafter  expressed- 
It  is  my  will  that  my  sonne  John  deliuer  to  my  sonne  Samuell,  so  many 
of  my  bookes  as  shall  be  valued  by  the  oui'seers  of  this  my  will  to  bee 
worth  fifty  pounds  sterling,  or  that  hee  shall  pay  him  the  some  of  fifty 
pounds  sterling  to  buy  such  bookes  as  may  bee  vseful  to  him  in  the  way 
of  his  studdyes,  at  such  time  as  the  ouerseers  of  this  my  will  shall  judge 
meete  ;  but  if  my  sonne  John  doe  not  goe  on  to  the  perfecting  of  his 
studdyes,  or  shall  not  giue  vpp  himselfe  to  the  seruice  of  the  Lord  in  the 
worke  of  the  ministry,  my  will  is  that  my  sonne  Samuel  inioye  and  pos- 
sesse  the  whole  library  and.  manuscripts,  to  his  proper  vse  for  euer ; 
onely  it  is  my  will  that  whateuer  manuscripts  shall  be  judged  meete  to 
be  printed,  the  disposall  thereof  and  advantage  that  may  come  thereby 
I  leaue  wholly  to  my  executrix ;  and  in  case  shee  departs  this  life  before 
the  same  bee  judged  of  and  setled,  then  to  my  ouerseers  to  be  improued 
by  them  to  theire  best  discretion,  for  the  good  of  myne,  according  to  the 
trust  reposed  in  them.     And  howeuer  I  do  not  forbid  my  sonne  John 


APPENDIX   II.  .23 

from  seeking  and  taking  a  wife  in  England,  yet  I  doe  forbid  him  from 
marrying  and  tarrying  there. 

I  doe  giue  vnto  my  sonne  Samuell,  in  case  the  whole  library  come  not 
to  him,  as  is  before  expressed,  the  sum  of  seuenty  pounds,  to  bee  paid 
vnto  him  by  my  executrix  at  such  time,  and  in  such  manner,  as  shall  be 
judged  meetest  by  the  ouerseers  of  my  will. 

I  doe  allso  giue  vnto  my  daughter  Sarah  Hooker,  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling,  to  bee  paid  vnto  her  by  my  executrix  when  she 
shall  marry  or  come  of  the  age  of  one  and  twenty  yeares,  w'^'^  shall  first 
happen ;  the  disposall  and  further  education  of  her  and  the  rest,  I  leaue 
my  wife,  advising  them  to  attend  her  councell  in  the  feare  of  the  Lord. 

I  doe  giue  vnto  the  two  children  of  my  daughter  Joannah  Shepard 
deceased,  and  the  childe  of  my  daughter  Mary  Newton,  to  each  of  them 
the  suSi  of  ten  pounds,  to  bee  paid  vnto  them  by  my  sonne  John,  within 
one  yeare  after  hee  shall  come  to  the  possession  and  inioyment  of  my 
howsings  and  lands  in  Hartford,  or  my  sonne  Samuell,  if  by  the  decease 
of  John,  hee  come  to  inioye  the  same.    ' 

I  doe  make  my  beloued  wife  Susanna  Hooker,  executrix  of  this  my 
last  Will  and  Testament,  and  (my  just  debts  being  paid,)  do  giue  and 
bequeath  vnto  her  all  my  estate  and  goods,  moueable  and  imouable,  not 
formerly  bequeathed  by  this  my  will.  And  I  desire  my  beloued  frends 
Mr.  Edward  Hopkins  and  Mr.  William  Goodwyn,  to  affoard  theire  best 
assistance  to  my  wife,  and  doe  constitute  and  appoint  them  the  ouer- 
seers of  this  my  will.  And  it  hauing  pleased  the  Lord  now  to  visitt  my 
wife  with  a  sicknes,  and  not  knowing  how  it  may  please  his  Ma"'^  to  dis- 
pose of  her,  my  minde  and  will  is,  that  in  case  shee  departe  this  life  be- 
fore shee  dispose  the  estate  bequeathed  her,  my  aforesaid  beloued 
frends,  Mr.  Edward  Hopkins  and  Mr.  William  Goodwyn,  shall  take  care 
both  of  the  education  and  dispose  of  my  children  (to  whose  loue  and 
faithfullnes  I  commend  them)  and  of  the  estate  left  and  bequeathed  to 
my  wife,  and  do  committ  it  to  theire  best  judgment  and  discretion  to 
manage  the  said  estate  for  the  best  good  of  mine,  and  to  bestow  it 
vppon  any  or  all  of  them  in  such  a  proportion  as  shall  bee  most  suitable 
to  theire  owne  ap'hensions  ;  being  wiUing  onely  to  intimate  my  desire 
that  they  w''  deserue  best  may  haue  most ;  but  not  to  limmitt  them,  but 
leaue  them  to  the  full  scope  and  bredth  of  their  owne  judgments ;  in  the 
dispose  whereof,  they  may  haue  respect  to  the  forementioned  children 
of  my  two  daughters,  if  they  see  meet.  It  being  my  full  will  that  what 
trust  I  haue  comitted  to  my  wife,  either  in  matter  of  estate,  or  such 
manuscripts  as  shall  bee  judged  fitt  to  bee  printed,  in  case  shee  hue  not 
to  order  the  same  herselfe,  bee  wholly  transmitted  and  passed  ouer  from 
her  to  them,  for  the  ends  before  speciiied.  And  for  mortalhty  sake,  I 
doe  put  power  into  the  hands  of  the  forementioned  beloued  freinds,  to 
constitute  and  appoint  such  other  faithfull  men  as  they  shall  judge  meete 


424 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


(in  case  they  be  depriued  of  life  or  libberty  to  attend  to  tlie  same  in 
theire  owne  persons)  to  manage,  dispose  and  performe  tiie  estate  and 
trust  comitted  to  them,  in  as  full  manner  as  I  haue  coiiiitted  it  to  them 
for  the  same  end. 

THOMAS  HOOKER. 

This  was  declared  to  bee  the  last  Will  and 
Testament  of  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  the 
seuenth  day  of  July,  1647. 
In  the  presence  of 

Henry  Smith, 
Samuell  Stone, 
John  White. 


An   Inventory   of  the   Estate   of   Mr.   Thomas   Hooker, 
Deceased,  taken  the  2ist  Aprill,  1649. 

In  the  new  Parlour ;  It.:  3  chaires,  2  stooles,  6  cushions,  a     £      %.      d. 
clock,  a  safe,  a  table,  window  curtaines,  &c.,         -     05     00     00 

In  the  Hall ;  It. :  a  chest  of  drawers,  and  in  it,  2  dozen  of 
dishes,   a  pewter   flagon,    basons,    candlesticks, 
sawcers,  &c.,         -         -         -         -         -         -         -     06     00     00 

It.  :  in  ammunition,  4I.  It.  :  in  a  table  and  forme, 

and  4  wheeles,  il.,        - [05    00    00] 

In  the  onld Parlotir ;  It.:  2  tables,  a  forme,  4  chaires,  4 
stooles,  4  table  carpetts,  window  curtaines,  and- 
irons and  doggs,  &c.,  in  the  chimny,     -         -         -     09     00     00 

In  the  Chamber  ouer  that ;•  It. :  a  featherbed  and  boulster, 
2  pillowes,  a  strawbed,  2  blankitts,  a  rugg,  and 
couerlitt,  darnix  hangings  in  7  peeces,  window 
curtaines,  curtaines  and  valence  to  the  bed,  a  bed- 
stead, 2  chaires,  and  three  stooles,  andirons,  &c., 
in  the  chimny,  &  a  courte  cubberd,  -  -  -  14  05  00 
It. :  curtaines  and  valence  to  the  same  bed,  of 
greene  say,  and  a  rugg  of  the  same,  with  window 
curtaines,      -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -     05     00     00 

In  the  Hall  Chamber;  It. :  a  trunck  of  linnen',  cont. :  20 
p""  sheets,  8  table  cloaths,  5  doz.  napkins,  6  p'  of 
pillow  beers,  and  towells,     -        -        -        -        -     27    00    00 
It. .  a  bedstead,  two  truncks,  2  boxes,  a  chest, 
&  a  chaire,  -        -        -        -        -        -        -    03     05     00 


APPENDIX    II. 


425 


In  the  Kittchin  Chamber;  It. :  a  featherbed,  a  quilt  bed, 
2  blankitts,  2  couerlitts,  i  boulster,  a  flockbed 
and  boulster,  a  rugg  and  blankitt,  a  chest  & 
ould  trunck,  and  a  bedstead,         -         -         -         -     12     00     00 

In  the  Chamber  ouer  the  new  Parlour;  It. :  2  featherbeds, 
2  boulsters,  a  p''  of  pillows,  5  blankitts  and  2  ruggs, 
stript  valence  and  curtaines  for  bed  and  windowes, 
a  chest  of  drawers,  an  alarum,  2  boxes,  a  small 
trunck,  2  cases  of  bottles,  i  p'  of  dogs,  in  the 
chimney,       -        -         -        -         -.-        -         -21     00     00 

Itt  the  Garritts ;  It. :  in  corne  and  hoggsheads  and  other 

houshould  lumber,         - 14     15     00 

It. :  in  apparrell  and  plate,  -         -        -        -        -     40     00     00 

In  the  Kittchin;  It. :  2  brass  kettles,  3  brass  potts,  2 
chafing  dishes,  2  brass  skilletts,  a  brass  morter,  a 
brass  skimmer,  and  2  ladles,  2  iron  potts,  2  iron 
skilletts,  a  dripping  pann,  2  kettles,  2  spitts  and  a 
jack,  a  p''  of  cobirons,  a  p'  of  andirons,  a  p"'  of 
doggs,  fire  shouell  and  tongs,  2  frying  panns,  a 
warming  pann,  a  gridiron,  7  pewter  dishes,  2  por- 
ringers, I  p''  of  bellowes,  a  tinn  dripping  pann,  a 
roster,  and  2  tyn  couers,  pott  hooks  and  tram- 
mells,  all  valued  at        -        -        -        -        -      •  -     12     10    00 

In  the  Brew  Howse;  It.  :  a  copper  mash  tubbs,  payles, 
treyes,  &c.,  ------- 

hi  the  Sellars ;  It.  :   2  stills  and  dairy  vessels,  - 
It.  :  in  yearne  ready  for  the  weauer,    - 
It.  :  2  oxen,  2  mares,  i  horse,  2  colts,  8  cowes, 
and  2  heifers,  3  two  yeares  ould  and  6  yearlings, 
valued  at      ------- 

It. :  Husbandry  implements,         ... 

It.:  Howsing  and    Lands  within   the    bounds  of 

Hartford,  on  both  sides  the  Riuer, 

It. :  Bookes  in  his  studdy,  &c.,  valued  at     - 

It. :  an  adventure  in  the  Entrance, 

II36       15       GO 

The  foregoing  perticulars  were  prised  the  day  and  yeare  aboue  writ- 
ten, according  to  such  light  as  at  p'sent  appeared, 

by  Nathaniell  Ward, 
Edward  Stebbing. 
54 


■  04 

10 

GG 

•  06 

GO 

00 

■  03 

00 

GG 

1 

■  143 

GO 

00 

■   05 

00 

GO 

•  450 

00 

GG 

■  300 

OG 

OG 

■   50 

GG 

GG 

APPENDIX  III. 

(see  page  1 1 6.) 
poems  on  the  death  of  hooker. 

In  obitum   viri   Doctissimi  Thomae   Hookeri,    Pastoris   Ecclesiae   Hertfordiensis,    Novangliae 

Collegae  sui. 

A  Starre  of  heaven  whose  beams  were  very  bright, 

Who  was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light, 

Did  shine  in  our  Horizon  fourteen  years, 

Or  thereabout,  but  now  he  disappears  : 

July  the  seventh  six  hundred  fourtie-seaven, 

His  blessed  soul  ascended  up  to  heaven. 

He  was  a  man  exceeding  rich  in  truth  ; 

He  stored  up  rich  treasures  from  his  youth. 

While  he  was  in  the  University  ; 

His  light  did  shine,  his  parts  were  very  high. 

When  he  was  fellow  of  Emmanuell 

Much  learning  in  his  sohd  head  did  dwell. 

His  knowledge  in  Theologie  Divine 

In  Chei/uesford  l&cinrQ?,  divers  years  did  shine. 

Dark  Scriptures  he  most  clearly  did  expound, 

And  that  great  mystery  of  Christ  profound. 

He  had  a  singular  clear  insight,  in 

The  soul's  conversion  unto  God  from  sin  : 

And  in  what  method  men  come  to  inherit 

Both  Christ  and  all  his  fuUnesse  by  the  Spirit. 

He  made  the  truth  appear  by  light  of  reason, 

And  spake  most  comfortable  words  in  season. 

To  poor  distressed  sinners  and  contrite, 

And  such  as  to  the  Promises  had  right ; 

Which  did  revive  their  hearts  and  make  them  wonder : 

And  in  reproof  he  was  a  sonne  of  Thunder. 

He  spake  the  Word  with  such  authority. 

That  many  from  themselves  to  Christ  did  fly. 

His  preaching  was  full  of  the  holy  Ghost, 

Whose  presence  in  him  We  admired  most. 

He  did  excell  in  Mercy,  Peace,  and  Love, 


APPENDIX   III.  ^27 

Was  Lion-like  in  courage,  yet  a  Dove. 

He  from  the  largenesse  of  his  royall  heart, 

His  treasures  was  most  ready  to  impart. 

To  many  Ministers  he  was  a  father ; 

Who  from  his  light  much  pleasant  light  did  gather. 

The  principles  he  held  were  clear  and  strong  : 

He  was  to  truth  a  mighty  pillar  long. 

I  can  affirm  I  know  no  man  more  free 

From  Errors  in  his  judgement  than  was  he. 

His  holy  heart  delighted  much  to  act 

The  will  of  God,  wherein  he  was  exact. 

No  other  way  could  with  his  spirit  suit ; 

His  conversation  was  full  of  fruit. 

He  was  abundant  in  the  work  of  God, 

Untill  death  came,  and  heaven  was  his  abod. 

At  his  last  clause  Christ  found  him  doing  well, 

His  blamelesse  life  but  few  can  parallel. 

The  peace  he  had  full  thirty  years  agoe 

At  death  was  firm,  not  touched  by  the  foe. 

Of  all  his  daies  and  times,  the  lasl  were  best : 

The  end  of  such  is  peace,  he  is  at  rest. 

His  lipps,  they  were  a  spring  and  tree  of  life, 

Unto  his  people,  family  and  wife, 

In  which  much  wisdome,  health  and  grace  was  found. 

Are  sealed  up  and  buried  under  ground. 

If  any  to  this  Platform  can  reply 
With  better  reason,  let  this  volume  die  : 
But  better  argument  if  none  can  give, 
Then  Thomas  Hookers  Policy  shall  live. 

SAM.  STONE, 
Teaching  Elder  of  the  same  Church  at  Hartford  with  him. 

In  sepulchrum  Reverendissimi  viri,  fratris  charissirai  M.  THO.  HOOKERI. 

America,  although  she  doe  not  boast 

Of  all  the  gold  and  silver  from  this  Coast, 

Lent  to  her  sister  E'iirope''s  need  or  pride, 

(For  that's  repaid  her,  with  much  gain  beside, 

In  one  rich  Pearl,  which  Heavens  did  thence  afford, 

As  pious  Herbert  gave  his  honest  word) 

Yet  thinkes  SHE  in  the  Catalogue  may  come 

With  Europe,  Africke,  Asia,  for  ONE  TOMBE. 

E.  ROGERS. 


428 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD. 


On  my  Reverend  and  dear  Brother,  Mr.    THOMA  S  HOOKER,  late  Pastor  of  the  Church 
at  Hartford,  on  Connectignot. 

To  see  three  things  was  holy  Austins  wish, 
Rotne  in  her  Flower,  Christ  Jesus  in  the  Flesh, 
And  Paul  i'  the  Pulpit ;  Lately  men  might  see, 
Two  first,  and  more,  in  Hookers  Ministry. 

Zion  in  Beauty,  is  a  fairer  sight. 

Than  Rome  in  Flower,  with  all  her  Glory  dight : 

Yet  Ztoiis  beauty  did  most  clearly  shine, 

In  Hookers  Rule,  and  Doctrine  ;  both  Divine. 

Christ  in  the  Spirit  is  more  then  Christ  in  Flesh, 
Our  Souls  to  quicken,  and  our  States  to  blesse  : 
Yet  Christ  in  Spirit  brake  forth  mightily. 
In  Faithful!  Hookers  searching  Ministry. 

Pa7tl  in  the  Pulpit,  Hooker  could  not  reach, 
Yet  did  He  Christ  in  Spirit  so  lively  Preach  : 
That  living  Hearers  thought  He  did  inherit 
A  double  Portion  of  Pauls  hvely  spirit. 

Prudent  in  Rule,  in  Argument  quick,  full ; 
Fervent  in  Prayer,  in  Preaching  powerful!  : 
That  well  did  learned  Ames  record  bear, 
The  like  to  Him  He  never  wont  to  hear. 

'Twas  of  Genevahs  Worthies  said  with  wonder, 
(Those  Worthies  Three  :)  Farell  wzs  wont  to  Thunder  ; 
Viret,  like  Rain,  on  tender  grasse  to  shower, 
But  Calvin  lively  Oracles  to  pour. 

All  these  in  Hookers  spirit  did  remain  : 

A  Sonne  of  Thunder,  and  a  shower  of  Rain, 

A  pourer  forth  of  lively  Oracles, 

In  saving  souls,  the  summe  of  miracles. 

Now  blessed  Hooker,  thou  art  set  on  high, 

Above  the  thanklesse  world  and  cloudy  sky : 

Doe  thou  of  all  thy  labour  reape  the  Crown, 

Whilst  we  here  reape  the  seed,  which  thou  hast  sowen. 

J.  COTTON. 


APPENDIX    IV. 

SEE   PAGE    117. 
NOTES    OF    MR.    HOOKER'S    SERMON. 

The  following  notes  and  comments  were  kindly  furnished  by  Dr.  J. 
H.  Trumbull : 

FROM  DEACON  MATTHEW  GRANT'S  MSB.  NOTES. 

[Mr.  Hooker  died  Wednesday,  July  7,  1647.  "  The  last  Lord's  day  of 
his  public  ministry,  when  he  a'^ministered  the  Lord's  Supper"  to  his 
Church,  must  have  been  either  June  27th  or  July  4th.  At  the  end  of 
these  notes  of  a  sermon  preached  June  20th,  Deacon  Grant  wrote : 

"  Mr.  Hooker  was  buried  18  days  after  he  preached  this  sermon." 

There  is  an  allusion  under  Doctrine  the  3d  to  objections  made  to  the 
adoption  of  a  Church  covenant  by  the  Windsor  church.  Some  weeks 
after  Mr.  Hooker's  death  (Aug.  15,  1647)  Mr.  Warham  preached  "upon 
the  matter  and  form  of  a  church  "  (from  I  Cor.  i:  2)  "  and  upon  baptiz- 
ing children."  October  23,  1647,  the  Windsor  church  adopted  a  form 
of  Covenant,  of  which  the  only  record  is  in  Deacon  Grant's  note-book. 
I  find  no  evidence  of  any  earlier  "explicit"  Covenant  in  that  church.] 

"June  20,  1647.  A  sermon  preached  at  Windsor  by  Mr.  Hooker, 
pastor  of  Hartford,  whilst  Mr.  Warham  was  absent  in  the  Bay.  The 
text,  Rom.  i:  18, — 'For  the  wrath  of  God  is  revealed  from  Heaven 
against  all  unrighteousness,'  etc.  In  the  words  are  three  things  to  be 
considered :  First,  the  condition  of  all  men  by  nature ;  ungodly, 
unrighteous.  2dly,  the  evidence  of  this  condition:  '  They  hold  down 
the  truth  in  unrighteousness.'  3dly,  God's  displeasure  against  these 
men  manifested  by  wrath  from  heaven. 

The  points  of  Doctrine  that  were  handled  were  three:  i.  All  the 
sons  of  Adam  in  themselves  considered  are  ungodly  and  unjust.  All 
men  as  they  came  from  Adam  are  unjust:  Ephes.  2:  12:  haters  of 
God  :  Tit.  3:  3. 

Use.  Hence  we  may  learn  what  we  may  expect  at  the  hands  of  all 
natural  men,  when  we  come  to  deal  with  them.  Natural  men  are  unjust 
men  and  unrighteous  men.  \  Judas  was  an  unrighteous  man,  and  bore 
the  bag,  and  then  served  himself.  There  is  never  a  natural  man  but 
will  be  thieving  if  he  can  do  it  secretly. 


430  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN  HARTFORD. 

2dly.  This  shows  that  wicked  men  deceive  themselves,  and  God's 
people  are  deceived  by  them,  but  though  no  man  know  them  to  be 
unjust,  yet  God  knows  them  to  be  unjust. 

3dly.  This  is  to  exhort  all  natural  men  not  to  quiet  themselves  in 
this  condition,  not  for  a  moment ;  for  as  death  leaves  them,  so  will  God 
find  them  at  the  Judgment. 

A  Second  Doctrine :  that  there  be  stirrings  of  truth  in  the  hearts  of 
all  men  naturally,  and  carnal  men  labor  to  beat  them  down.  Two 
things  to  be  considered  :  What  this  truth  is,  and  how  it  [is]  stirring. 
This  truth  is,  those  relics  that  are  left  in  the  mind  of  man  from  Adam, 
that  light  that  discovereth  right  and  wrong  in  many  things,  and  is  that 
conscience  which  is  in  man.     Rom.  2:   14. 

2dly,  this  truth  left  in  the  heart  of  man  is  but  little  and  weak  of 
itself:  corruption  in  the  heart  hath  eaten  it  out.     Acts  17:  27. 

2.  How  this  truth  is  stirring  in  men's  bosoms,  which  they  labor  to 
beat  down. 

Use.  Wonder  therefore  at  the  goodness  of  God  to  man  fallen,  that 
he  hath  not  left  him  wholly  in  darkness,  without  any  means  to  help 
him,  but  hath  left  him  some  recoilings  of  heart  to  recover  him.  So 
long  as  a  prince  leaves  his  ambassador  in  another  country,  it  is  a  sign 
he  maintains  peace  with  them,  but  if  he  call  him  home,  they  must 
expect  war.  So  if  God  leaves  us  to  ourselves,  so  that  we  put  out  this 
spark  of  light  left  in  our  bosom,  let  us  take  heed  God  does  not  proceed 
against  us.  It  was  the  course  God  took  with  the  old  world,  because 
they  always  resisted  his  dictates  :  therefore,  that  his  spirit  should  not 
always  strive  with  them. 

Use  of  Instructioji :  that  with  a  watchful  fear,  you  give  attendance  to 
the  truth  of  God,  yea,  to  the  least  whispering  of  conscience.  Little  do 
you  think  that  when  you  go  away  convinced  in  your  conscience  that 
these  are  duties  to  be  attended^ — oh,  take  heed,  these  are  counsels  of 
God  from  heaven,  and  you  must  give  attendance  to  whispering  :  there- 
fore, when  God's  acting,  and  conscience  is  acting,  do  you  act  also. 
When  David's  heart  smote  him,  he  took  it  as  from  God.  So  do  you. 
Though  these  truths  cannot  bring  a  man  to  his  journey's  end,  yet  they 
will  help  him  onward  on  his  way. 

When  the  truth  is  stirring,  what  do  they  ?  They  hold  it  down  *  in 
unrighteousness.  For  explanation  of  some  things  :  Any  breach  of  the 
law  of  God  is  meant  by  unrighteousness.  2dly,  to  hold  down  the  truth 
is  as  much  as  to  lay  violent  hands  upon  truth  and  upon  conscience,  and 


*  Here,  as  elsewhere,  Hooker  substitutes  "they  hold  [it]  down,"  for  "they  hold  [it]"  (in  un- 
righteousness) of  the  authorized  version.  The  Genevan,  or  rather  Beza  "  Englished  by  L.  Tom- 
son" — the  version  most  used  by  the  Puritans — has  "which  withhold  the  truth  in  unrighteous, 
ness."  Hooker's  rendering  of  the  original  text  (kojt ixdvruiv)  is  the  same  to  which  preference  is 
given  in  the  new  revision  — "  who  hold  doivn  the  truth,"  etc. 


APPENDIX   IV. 


431 


to  say,  accuse  and  convince  no  more  ;  they  do  arrest  the  truth,  and 
imprison  the  truth  ;  but  how  ?  It  is  in  unrighteousness  :  that  is,  by  the 
authority  (?)  of  the  sinfull  distemper  in  the  soul  that  any  person  does 
rise  up  and  oppose  any  truth  of  God. 

Doctrine  the  -^d.  Carnal  men  suppress  the  power  of  the  truth,  that 
it  may  not  prevail  with  them,  and  press  them  to  holy  duties  :  that  no 
light  may  come  in  to  hinder  them  in  their  way.  They  stifle  conscience  : 
when  Lot  spake  mildly,  they  were  hot  against  him:  Gen.  19:  "And 
these  proud  men,"  Jer.  43:  2  :  when  truth  does  not  please  them,  "thou 
liest."  Men  that  live  in  continual  opposition  against  God,  God  leaves 
them  that  they  see  neither  right  nor  reason,  as  a  man  that  hath  lost  all  his 
eyes.  How  men  suppress  the  truth,  and  lock  the  truth  close  prisoner. 
A  carnal  man  and  unrighteous  heart,  because  he  cannot  be  quiet  in  his 
sin,  he  is  not  willing  to  see,  because  he  is  not  willing  to  do  that  which 
will  cross  (?)  his  distemper :  he  keeps  himself  off  from  the  truth  and 
saith,  what  need  a  man  trouble  himself  with  these  nissityes  (niceties):  he 
winketh  with  his  eyes,  and  sayeth  to  the  prophet,  see  not,  but  speak 
unto  us  smooth  things.  A  carnal  heart  acts  like  a  jailor,  confines  the 
conscience  to  the  chain — and  he  shall  have  the  liberty  of  that,  but  no 
more ;  sayeth,  thus  far  shalt  thou  go,  but  no  farther ;  like  [one  with] 
blear  eyes,  that  can  endure  some  light,  but  that  the  sun  should  shine 
full  in  his  face,  he  cannot  endure  :  content  to  have  it  taught  that  a  man 
should  not  steal— by  the  highways  ;  but  that  a  man  must  not  cozen  in 
secret,  he  cannot  endure  ;  or  such  as  can  bear  to  have  rotten  and  cor- 
rupt speeches  reproved,  but  to  forbid  chambering  and  wantonness  he 
will  not  bear. 

■zdly.  Haply,  a  man  is  not  able  to  avoid  the  light :  then  a  carnal  mind 
will  labor  to  dull  and  take  off  the  edge  of  truth  and  power  of  that  he 
knows  ;  he  will  put  reproofs  upon  the  good  ways  of  God,  flinging  filth 
and  shame  upon  the  good  word  of  God,  that  so  it  may  not  have  welcome 
and  his  heart  not  be  taken  to  come  under  the  power  of  the  truth  ;  and 
also  say,  your  Church  covenant  is  but  a  conceit  taken  up  of  some, — and 
that  baptism  should  be  dispensed  but  to  children  of  the  Church,  they 
say  it  is  but  a  conceit,  to  please  some  in  a  singular  way;  and  so  dis- 
courage from  the  truth  as  impossible  ever  to  have  comfort ;  Rom.  i:  28, 
2  Thes.  2:10:  they  had  the  truth,  but  did  not  love  it.  But  our  Saviour 
sayeth,  Blessed  is  the  man  that  is  not  offended  at  me. 

idly.  If  the  evidence  of  truth  be  so  clear  that  it  dasheth  all,  and  so 
compels  a  man  to  come  in, — then  a  carnal  heart  frameth  new  arguments 
to  overbear  the  power  of  the  truth.  Balaam  would  fain  have  had 
allowance 'from  God,  and  had  a  house  full  of  gold  ;  and  when  he  cannot 
get  allowance,  then  he  fell  to  quarreling  and  caviling. 

A  carnal  heart  takes  great  contentment  that  he  can  find  a  shift. 

When  a  man  is  troubled  at  the  evidence  of  truth,  he  may  go  far  and 


432 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


near  to  get  some  help,  and  if  he  can  get  any  kind  of  shift,  he  sits  down 
fully  satisfied, — as  Pharaoh  sends  for  the  magicians,  not  that  he  might 
know  the  mind  of  God  to  do  it,  but  that  he  might  have  some  plea  to 
attend  [....]  his  way. 

\thly.  If  a  man  is  not  able  to  corrupt  the  truth,  then  he  will  proceed 
to  open  opposition  of  it :  when  they  cannot  tell  how  to  write  the  bond 
of  truth,  then  they  will  break  it.  i  Sam.  8 :  19 ;  we  will  have  a  king. 
Hence  comes  this  speech  :  All  the  world  shall  not  persuade  me :  not 
their  arguments  are  strong,  but  they  are  resolved. 

^tJily.  They  have  so  dabed*  conscience,  Eph.  4:  18,  that  they  are 
past  feeling  :  conscience  says  nothing,  and  they  fear  nothing,  i  Timo. 
4  :  2;  conscience  is  seared  with  a  hot  iron  :  now  they  will  deny  a  man 
the  liberty  of  the  prison  :  the  man  is  growing  sermon-proof  and  prison- 
proof  :  they  master  their  conscience, — and  by  this  time  the  sinner  is 
like  a  living  devil.  What  is  the  reason  of  this  ?  What  hath  the  truth 
done,  that  they  are  so  troubled  ?  Because  a  corrupt  heart  looks  at  his 
lusts  as  his  chief  good,  as  his  God, — as  Micah,  Judg.  18  :  24  ;  that  is  the 
cause  why  they  are  so  violent  against  the  truth ;  they  will  rather  destroy 
than  their  lusts,  i  Sam.  4 :  8,  9  ;  when  they  see  the  truth  would  make 
them  servants  to  the  truth  against  their  lusts,  as  they  count  it,  they 
will  not  yield  to  these  ....  commandments.  Herod's  lusts  were 
nearer  to  him  than  God.  So  the  scribes  and  the  pharisees  dealt  with 
the  Son  :  slay  him,  that  the  kingdom  may  be  ours.  A  man  cannot  live 
in  his  kingdom  of  pride  if  truth  be  not  beaten  down. 

zdly.  So  they  are  desirous  to  have  sweet  contentment  with  their 
sins,  therefore  they  will  oppose  the  truth  that  will  raise  claims  of  con- 
science and  [so  that]  they  shall  not  have  quiet  in  their  sins.  It  is  no 
marvel  they  so  trouble  truth  that  so  troubleth  themselves.  Rev.  11  :  10; 
when  the  two  witnesses  were  slain  then  the  world  made  merry  that  they 
were  dead  that  tormented  them :  every  wicked  man  is  the  malefactor 
whom  truth  witnesseth  against. 

Ohs.  But  how  can  they  imprison  the  truth  that  shall  triumph  forever  ? 
There  is  a  directing  power  in  the  truth,  which  may  be  dashed  by  them  ; 
but  there  is  a  condemning  power  in  the  truth  that  shall  stand  forever  ! 

Use ;  of  Itistructiort :  that  this  follows  as  a  collection  undeniable, 
that  all  opposers  of  the  truth  are  ever  under  the  power  of  some  corrup- 
tion if  they  persevere  in  opposing  it :  he  imprisons  the  truth  out  of 
pride :  if  it  be  a  godly  man  that  opposeth  the  truth  for  a  pang,  he  is 
pestered  with  some  corruption,  though  not  under  the  power  of  it. 
John  3  :  20,  Every  man  that  evil  doeth,  hateth  the  light.  Jonah  was  in 
a  pang  of  [.  .  .  .]  for  a  time.  If  a  man  persevere  in  opposing'the  truth, 
it  argues  he  is  under  the  power  of  corruption.     Achan  loved  the  wedge, 


*  A  reference  to  Ezek.  13  :   10-12  ?  "  daubed  it  with  untempered  mortar,"  &c. 


APPENDIX    IV. 


433 


and  Balaam  the  wages  of  iniquity,  and  therefore  went  again  and  again 
to  cross  the  Lord :  the  Pharisees  out  of  their  own  conceit  compassed 
sea  and  land  in  order  that  they  might  rejoice  in  their  flesh  in  winning 
any  one  to  be  their  follower.  Matt.  7:6;  who  are  that  trample  upon  the 
pearl,  but  hogs  and  dogs  ?  The  one  will  trample  upon  it  and  grunt, — 
but  will  do  nothing;  the  dog  will  snarl  at  it:  follow  them,  and  you 
shall  ever  find  they  have  their  sty  and  kennel,  some  base  lust  to 
lodge  in. 

Use :  of  Examination  and  Trial ;  that  we  may  here  discover  whether 
a  heart  be  carnal  or  spiritual,  see  how  the  heart  stands  to  the  truth  and 
carries  (?)  to  the  truth.  John  8  :  32  ;  free  from  your  corruptions  and 
distempers  :  but  if  he  be  a  professed  opposer  of  the  truth,  he  is  a  man 
that  never  had  the  truth  of  God  in  his  heart.  An  oppresser  of  the  truth 
has  no  gracious  work  of  truth,  in  sincerity. 

*  This  Doctrine  condemns  three  sorts  of  men  :  [ist,]  politic  professors  ; 
2d,  wrangling,  and  3d,-  self-conceited  professors.  The  politic  is  a  secret 
professor,  that  colors  over  their  profession  to  serve  their  own  turns  ; 
whose  policy  cuts  the  throat  of  sincerity :  he  serves  the  times  ;  he 
admits  (.'')  that  a  man  cannot  carry  himself  free  from  the  entanglements 
of  the  times.  They  are  formalist  professors  :  he  has  the  truth  as  a 
child  has  a  bird  in  a  string;  pulls  him  to  him,  and  lets  him  go,  as  he 
will.  There  be  birds  that  we  call  weatherwise,  that  will  go  or  come  as 
the  season  serves  :  so  these  professors  will  have  so  much  truth  as  will 
serve  their  turn,  and  that  which  will  not  they  lay  by.  There  be  some 
that  be  for  any  place  :  England,  Spain,  France,  or  Anabaptists,  the 
smells,  the  climate  of  the  country,  and  knows  what  ship  will  carry  him 
to  his  haven.*     Esther,  8  :  [17,]  many  turned  Jews. 

2.  Your  wrangling  professor  ;  that  professeth  himself  marvellously 
zealous,  yet  [is]  one  of  the  cunningest  enemies  that  the  truth  has :  he 
kisseth  Christ,  and  betrays  truth :  and  all  this  he  does  for  his  zeal, 
and  for  God  and  the  truth  and  the  rule  is  all  he  seeks,  and  he  will  do 
anything  for  it ;  the  truth  he  cannot  see.  Will  you  have  the  scope  of 
this  professor  ?  He  will  not  be  convinced  of  the  truth,  that  he  may 
not  do  the  thing  he  is  convinced  of :  for  a  man  to  confess  a  sin  and  yet 
to  stand  in  the  commission  of  it,  will  not  stand  with  morality :  but  this 
bears  a  face  \^sic\  when  a  man  inquires  a  way  :  but  he  is  resolved  not  to 
embrace  the  truth,  that  so  [he]  may  not  do  it.  Oh,  let  the  counsel  of 
the  wicked  be  far  from  me,  Jerem.  42  :  20,  they  come  to  inquire,  when 
they  were  resolved  [not  to  do];  Matt.  21  :  25-27,  they  were  put  to  a 
strait,  and  came  off  with  a  lie.  When  a  man  is  convinced,  and  will  not 
come  off,  unless  he  be  in  a  distemper,  he  is  a  wrangler. 

3.  The  self-conceited :  We  have  an  example  of  them  in  Matt.  14:  4, 


*  So,  in  the  notes — here,  manifestly,  very  imperfect. 

55 


434 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


5,  6:  they  lord  it  over  the  law,  and  think  that  their  wit  has  the  common- 
wealth in  their  heads,  and  that  all  men's  apprehensions  must  fall  in 
with  their  judgments  :  i  Timo.  6 :  3,4;  if  any  man  thinks  otherwise, 
he  is  diseased  in  the  humour  of  questions  [sic],  he  comes  not  up  to  the 
terms  of  the  truth.  In  an  unsound  body,  when  the  humour  grows  all  to 
one  place,  he  is  sick  of  a  disease.  All  his  zeal  for  the  truth  is  to  set 
up  himself. 

C/se :  of  Consolation,  and  of  singular  comfort  to  all  that  are  willing  to 
inquire  after  the  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth.  This  is  an  evidence 
of  a  sincere  heart :  If  you  are  of  the  truth,  then  are  you  my  disciples. 
'  I  have  no  greater  joy  than  [to  hear]  that  my  children  walk  in  the 
truth'  [3  John,  4] :  and  if  he  had  joy  in  beholding,  what  a  treasure  of 
joy  is  it  to  have  the  enjoyment  of  it.  i  John,  3  :  8,  [3  John,  12,] 
'Demetrius  hath  a  good  report  of  all  men  and  of  the  truth  itself.' 
When  truth  shall  witness  before  the  Lord  in  any  one's  behalf  and  say, 
though  this  poor  sinful  child,  or  servant,  or  wife,  or  master,  has  been 
stubborn,  froward,  or  proud  in  their  places,  yet  I  have  found  his  heart 
upright  towards  Thee, — this  will  be  your  comfort  at  the  last  day. 

Use :  Here  we  may  see  the  right  and  never  failing  way  of  God,  how 
the  heart  may  be  brought  to  embrace  the  truth.  Labor  to  quit  your 
hearts  of  unrighteousness,  for  it  is  at  the  quarrel  of  unrighteousness 
that  all  suits  are  \sic\.  Do  as  Peter  exhorts,  i  Pet.  2:  12,  lay 
aside  all  malice  and  guile,  and  do  as  Paul  did,  that  which  he  counted 
gain  he  counted  loss  for  Christ,  parties  mad  in  persecuting  ;  but  that 
which  he  counted  gain,  he  threw  them  all  away  as  dog's  meat,  for  Christ. 
If  you  have  a  humour  in  yourself  you  must  cleanse  your  stomach. 
When  Ephraim  renounceth  his  idols,  then  he  shall  be  accepted." 


APPENDIX    V. 

(see  page  145.) 
THOMAS  HOOKER'S  PUBLISHED  WORKS. 

FURNISHED   BY   DR.  J  .    H.    TRUMBULL. 

?  \_The  Poor  Dovting  Christian  drawnc  znito  Chriat. 

8°  London  :  Printed  in  the  year  1629.] 

Title  from  Henry  Stevens — from  whom  Sabin  copied  it. 

This  book  does  not  appear  in  the  Registers  of  the  Stationers'  Com- 
pany until  1637,  whom  (May  6th)  "  The  poore  doubting  Christian  drawn 
to  Christ,  &c.  vpon  John  the  6th,  the  45th  [verse],  by  Master  Hooker" 
was  entered  for  copyright  to  Mr.  [R.]  Dawlman  and  Luke  Fawne  {Reg- 
isters^ iv.  383.)  Two  weeks  earlier,  "certain  Sermons  vpon  John  the 
6th,  verse  the  45th,  by  T.  H."  had  been  entered  to  Andrew  Crook e 
{ibid.  381) — which  may  have  been  another  edition  of  the  same  work. 

Its  sixth  edition  was  printed  in  1641  : — 

"The  Poore  Doubting  Christian  drawn  to  Christ.  Wherein  the  main 
Lets  and  Hindrances  which  keep  men  from  coming  to  Christ  are  dis- 
covered. With  especiall  Helps  to  recover  God's  favor.  The  Sixth 
Edition."     London:  L  Raworth  for  Ljike  Fawne.  pp.  (2),  163.      12°. 

After  the  6th,  I  can  trace,  in  the  seventeeth  century,  only  three  edi- 
tions [1652  {Dr.  Williams's  Libr.  Cat.):,  1659,  J.  M acock.,  for  Luke 
Fawne,  12°, and  1667,  16°  {Am.  Antiq.  Sac.  Catalogue)\  before  "The 
Twelfth  Edition,"  12°  1700. 

The  first  American  edition,  with  an  "  Abstract  of  the  author's  Life," 
by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Prince,  was  printed  in  Boston  (for  D.  Henchman) 
1743  {11°  pp.  14.  144). — This  edition,  with  the  Life,  and  an  Introduction 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  W.  Hooker,  was  reprinted,  Hartford,  1845  (16° 
pp.  165,  I). 

Sabin  {Dictionary.,  no.  32847)  says  :  "  This,  the  earliest  and  most 
popular  of  Hooker's  works,  first  appeared  in  a  collection  of  sermons 
entitled  '  The  Saints'  Cordial,'  attributed  to  Sibbs."  I  have  not  seen 
this  collection,  nor  can  I  find  any  mention  of  the  edition  of  1629  except 
in  H.  Stevens's  catalogue  (and  in  Sabin)  as  before  noted. 


436  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 

The  Sovles  Preparatio7i  for  Christ.  Or,  A  Treatise  of  Contrition. 
Wherein  is  discovered  How  God  breaks  the  heart  and  wounds  the 
Soule,  in  the  conversion  of  a  Sinner  to  Himselfe.    pp.  (8),  258. 

4°  London,  R.  Dawlmati.,  1632. 

[2d  edition  ?]  4°  Lotidon,  1635. 

[3d  edition  .'']  sm.  12°  Printed  {for  the  7ise  and  benefit  of  the 

English  Churches)  in  the  Netherlands.  1638. 

4th  Edition.  4°  Limdon :  Assignes,  of  T.  P. 

for  A.  Crooke.  1638. 

6th  Edition.  12°  Lond.,  M.  F.  for  R.  Dawlman.         1643. 

7th  Edition.  12°  Lond.,  J.  G.  for  R.  Dawlman.  1658. 

This  work  was  entered  to  R.  Dawlman,  29  Oct.,  1631,  as  "The  Soules 
Preparation  for  Christ,  out  of  Acts  2,  37,  and  Luke  15,  by  F.  H."— as 
the  printed  Register  (iv.  263)  has  it,  by  a  clerical  error  for  T.  H.  One 
third  of  the  copyright  was  assigned,  14  Oct.,  1634,  to  R.  Allott,  and  by 
AUott's  widow,  I  July,  1637,  to  Legatt  and  Andrew  Crooke. 

TJie  Eqvall  Waycs  of  God :  Tending  to  the  Rectifying  of  the 
Crooked  Wayes  of  Man.  The  Passages  whereof  are  briefly  and  clearly 
drawne  from  the  sacred  Scriptures.     By  T.  H.     pp.  (8),  40. 

4°  London;  for  John  Clarke,  1632. 

Entered  to  J.  Clarke,  6  Dec,  1631  {Registers,  iv.  267).  The  prefatory 
address,  To  the  Christian  Reader,  is  signed  T.  H. — showing  that  the 
publication  was  authorized  by  the  author. 

S^An  Exposition  of  the  Lord^s  Prayer.     By  T.  H.  1638.] 

Entered,  as  above,  to  Mr.  [R.]  Dawlman,  5  Sept.  1637  {Stat.  Registers, 
iv.  392).  It  is  advertised,  as  published,  in  a  list  of  Mr.  Hooker's  books, 
prefixed  to  (the  4th  edition  of)  "  The  Soules  Preparation,"  &c.,  1638. 
The  Bodleian  Catalogue  has  :  Heaven''s  Treasury  opened,  in  a  faithfull 
Exposition  of  the  Lord's  Prayer,  Z°  Lond.  1645:  and  Sabin  has  that 
title  and  date  nearly  (no.  32839)  with  "fruitful"  in  place  of  "faithfull," 
and  adding :  "  with  a  Treatise  on  the  Principles  of  Religion  ; "  but 
marking  the  size  as  4to.  The  Bodleian  has,  as  a  separate  title  :  "  An 
Exposition  of  the  Principles  of  Religion,"  8°  1645, — in  the  list  of  Hook- 
er's works. 

The  Sollies  Hiimiliatiott.     A^°  London,  for  A.  Crooke,  \6'^'].     Entered 
(as,  by  T.  H.)  Feb.  28,  1636-7,  to  A.  Crooke,  by  whom  one  half  the 
copyright  was  assigned  to  P.  Nevill,  13  March,  1637-8  {Registers,  iv.  374, 
412).     The  licenser's  imprimatur  is  dated  Oct.  10  and  Dec.  6,  1637. 
The  Second  Edition,  4°  /.  L.  for  A.  Crooke.  1638. 

The  Third  Edition.  4°  T.  Cotes  for  A.  Crooke  \     ^ 

and  P.  Nevill.  S 
Another.  8°  Avisterdani,for  T.  L.  .  .  .  near  the  Eftglish  Chiirch. 

{pp.  302)  1638. 


APPENDIX   V.  437 

The  Soules  Implantation.  A  Treatise  containing,  The  Broken 
Heart,  on  Esay  n.  15.  The  Preparation  of  the  Heart,  on  Luke  i.  17. 
The  Soules  Ingraffing  into  Christ,  on  Mai.  3.  i.  Spirituall  Love  and 
Joy,  on  Gal.  5.  22.     By  T.  H.     4°  R.  Yoimg,  sold  by  F.  Clifton,  1637. 

pp.  (2),  266. 

Entered  22  Apr.  1637,  to  Young  and  Clifton,  {Registers,  iv.  382.) 
Another,  much  improved  edition,  under  the  title — 

The  Soules  Implantation  into  the  Naturall  Olive.  By  T.  H. 
Carefully  corrected,  and  much  enlarged.  With  a  Table  of  the  Contents 
prefixed.  4°  R.  Young,  sold  by  F.  Clifton,  1640. 

pp.  (6),  320. 

The  Sermon  on  Spiritual  Joy,  on  Habak.  3.  17,  18,  is  added  in  this 
edition,  and  the  preceding  Sermon,  on  Spiritual  Love,  was  printed  from 
larger  and  more  accurate  notes. 

The  Sovles  Ingrafting  into  Christ.  By  T.  H.  4°  J.  H  [ai'iland] 
pp.  (2),  30.  for  A.  Crooke,  1637. 

The  text  is  Mai.  3.  i.  It  is  one  of  three  "Sermons  .  .  by  T.  H." 
entered  to  Crooke,  22  July,  1637  {Registers,  iv.  390).  Another  edition  of 
it  makes  part  of  "The  Soules  Implantation"  1637.  See  the  next  pre- 
ceding title. 

The  Sovles  Effectuall  Calling  to  Christ.  By  T.  H.  4°  J.  H\avi- 
land'\  for  A.  Crooke,  1637.    pp.  (2),  33-668. 

Entered  to  A.  Crooke,  21  Apr.  1637,  as  "certain  Sermons  upon  John 
the  6th,  verse  the  45th,  by  T.  H."  {Register,  iv.  381.)  Usually  bound 
with  "  The  Sovles  Ingrafting,"  with  which  its  paging  is  continuous  ;  but 
also  published  separately  (though  without  change  of  paging,)  with  a 
second  title  prefixed, — 

The  Sovles  Vocation  or  Eftectual  Calling  to  Christ.     By  T.  H. 

With  a  Table  of  Contents  (11  leaves),  and  in  imprint,  the  date  1638. 

[The  Soules  Possession  of  Christ :  upon  Romans  13:  4,  Acts  16  :  31, 
Psal.  51  :  16,  John  7 :  37,  2  Kings  2  :  12,  i  Peter  5  :  5,  Zeph.  2:3.  By 
T.  H.]  8^  1638. 

So  entered  to  [R.]  Dawlman,  13  Nov.  1637.  The  Bodleian  Catalogue 
has  :  The  Soules  Possession  of  Christ :  whereunto  is  annexed  a  Funeral 
Sermon  on  2  Kings  ii.  12.  S°  Lond.  1638.  "■Spirituall  Munition:  a 
funeral  Sermon,  on  2  Kings  ii.  12.  By  T.  H.  8°  Lond.  1638"  {Bodl. 
Cat.)  appears  to  have  been  also  published  separately. 

The  Sovles  Exaltation.  A  Treatise  containing  The  Soules  Vnion 
with  Christ,  on  i  Cor.  6.  17.  The  Soules  Benefit  from  Vnion  with 
Christ,  on  i  Cor.  i.  30.  The  Soules  Justification,  on  2  Cor.  5.  21.  By 
T.  H.    //.  (16),  311. 

4°  J.  Haviland,  for  Andr.  Crooke,  1638. 


438  THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 

8  April,  1637,  [12]  "  Sermons  .  .  by  T.  H."  were  entered  to  Andrew 
Crooke, — the  text  of  each  being  named  {Registe?-s^  iv.  380).  These  ser- 
mons were  made  up  into  three  volumes,  under  the  titles,  "  The  Soules 
Exaltation  "  (3),  "  Four  Treatises,"  etc.  (3),  and  "  The  Vnbeleevers  Pre- 
paring for  Christ"  (5)- — all  published  in  1638. 

The  Vnbeleevers  Preparing  for  Christ.  Luke  i.  17.  By  T.  H.  pp. 
(4),  204,  (4)  ;  119,  (4).     4°  T.  Cotes  for  Andr.  Crooke^  1638. 

Six  sermons.  The  first  five  selected  from  the  "  Sermons  by  T.  H." 
entered  to  A.  Crooke,  8  April,  1637;  the  last  (on  John  6.  44),  one  of 
"  certain  sermons  .  .  by  T.  H.,"  entered  to  the  same  publisher,  22  July, 
1637  {Registers,  iv.  380,  390.) 

Four  godly  and  learned  Treatises :  viz.  :  The  Carnall  Hypocrite. 
The  Churches  Deliverances.  The  Deceitfulness  of  Sinne.  The  Bene- 
fit of  Afflictions.    'By  T.  H.  12°  A.  Crooke,  1638. 

(Prince  Library  and  Bodleian  Catalogues.)  Probably  four  of  the  (12) 
Sermons  by  T.  H.  entered  to  Crooke,  8  April,  1637.  Among  "several 
Treatises  by  this  Author"  advertised  by  Cooke,  1638,  are  "Sermons on 
Judges  10.  23  ;  on  Psalms  119.  29  ;  on  Proverbs  i.  28,  29  ;  and  on  2  Tim. 
3.  5."  These  sermons  are  included  in  the  collection  entered  8  April, 
except  the  third,  which  is  one  of  four  entered  to  the  same  publisher, 
22  July,  1837.  (Crooke  assigned  half  the  copyright  of  these  "Four 
Treatises"  to  Wm.  Wethered,  i  Sept.  1638.) 

}[The  Gaiments  of  Salvation  first  putt  off  by  the  Fall  of  our  first 
Parents.    Secondly,  putt  on  again  by  the  Grace  of  the  Gospel.    By  T.  H. 

1639?] 

Entered,  6  May,  1639,  to  R.  Young  and  Fulke  Chfton  {Registers,  iv. 
465.)  Mr.  Arber  queries,  "  ?by  Thomas  Hooker."  Certainly  intended 
\o  pass  for  his.     I  have  not  been  able  to  find  a  copy  of  it. 

The  Christians   Two  Chife  Lessons,  Viz.  Selfe-Deniall,  and  Selfe- 

Tryall.     As  also,  The  Priviledge  of  Adoption  and  Triall  thereof.     In 

three  Treatises  on  the  Texts  following:  Viz.  Matt.  16.  24.     2  Cor.  13.  5. 

lohn  I.  12,  13.     By  T.  H. 

pp.  (24),  303.  4°  T.  B.  for  P.  Stephens  and  C.  Meredith,  1640. 

An  "  Epistle  Dedicatory,"  to  "  the  Honourable  and  truly  Religious 
Lady,  the  Lady  Anne  Wake,"  is  subscribed,  Z.  S.  [Rev.  Zechariah 
Symmes  of  Charlestown  ?]  who  "had  taken  some  paines  in  the  perusall 
and  transcribing"  the  copy  "  after  it  came  into  the  Printers  hands," 
and  "one  that  was  inwardly  acquainted  with  the  Authour  [Thomas 
Shepard  ?]  hath  laboured  with  me  in  this  taske." 


APPENDIX   V. 


439 


"A  Treatise  or  certaine  Sermons  ^  of  Selfe  DenyaW  upon  Matthew 
i6.  24  and  25  verses,  by  T.  H."  was  entered  15  Dec.  1638,  to  Stevens 
and  Meredith  {Registers  iv.  448).  The  completed  work,  with  the  title 
as  above,  was  entered  to  the  same  partners,  15  Oct.  1639  {id.  483). 

\_The  Patter  lie  of  Perfectioii  exhibited  in  God's  Image  on  Adam  and 
God's  Covenant  with  him,  on  Genesis  i.  26.  Whereunto  is  added.  An 
ExJwrtacion  to  redeeme  tyme  for  recovering  our  losses  in  the  premises 
on  Ephesians,  5.  16.  Also  certaine  Queries  louching  a  true  and  sound 
Christian,  by  T.  H.] 

This  title  was  entered  to  Mr.  [R.]  Young  and  Fulke  Clifton,  19  Feb. 
1638-9  {Registers^  iv.  455).  Published  (in  a  second  edition  ?)  1640,  8° 
{Bodl.  Cat:) 

The  Danger  of  Desertion :  or  A  Farwell  Sermon  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Hooker,  Somtimes  Minister  of  God's  Word  at  Chainsford  in  Essex ; 
but  now  of  New  England.  Preached  immediately  before  his  departure 
out  of  old  England. — Together  with  Ten  Particular  rules  to  be  prac- 
tised every  day  by  converted  Christians,    pp.  (4),  29. 

4°  G.  M.for  Geo.  Ediuards,  1641. 

Text,  Jerem.  14.  9.  A  Second  edition  was  printed  the  same  year 
(Prince  Libr.  Cat.)  A  MS.  note  by  the  Rev.  T.  Prince  attributes  the 
"  Ten  Rules  "  to  the  Rev.  E.  Reyner. 

77^1?  Faithftl  Covenanter.  A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Lecture  in  Ded- 
ham  in  Essex.  By  that  excellent  servant  of  lesus  Christ,  in  the  work 
of  the  Gospel,  Mr.  Tho.  Hooker,  late  of  Chelmsford;  now  in  New- 
England.  Very  usefuU  in  these  times  of  Covenanting  with  God.  Psal. 
78.  vers.  9,  [10,  36,  37:  8  lines],    pp.  (2),  43. 

4^'  Christopher  Meredith,  1644. 

Text  from  Deut.  29.  24,  25.  Printed  from  the  notes  of  some  hearer 
— and  without  the  author's  knowledge — as  "  very  useful  in  these  times  " 
of  subscribing  the  "  Solemn  League  and  Covenant."        * 

?[^4«  Exposition  of  the  Principles  of  Religion.  8°  1645.] 

Title  from  the  Bodleian  Catalogue.     I  have  not  seen  it. 

The  Saints  Guide,  in  three  Treatises  on  Gen.  vi.  13,  [3,]  Rom.  i.  18, 
and  Ps.  i.  3.  ^\^^^  8°  Lond.  1645. 

Bodl.  Catalogue.'  "  Three  Sermons  upon  these  Texts  (vizt.)  Romans 
I.  18,  Genesis  6.  3,  Psalms  i.  3,  by  T.  H."  were  entered  to  John  Stafford, 
10  Aug.  1638  {Stat.  Reg.  iv.  428)  :  but  I  can  trace  no  earlier  edition  than 
that  of  1645. 


440 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


l\TJie  Iiiunortality  of  the  Soule.  The  Excellencie  of  Christ  Jesus, 
treated  on.  Wherein  the  faith  full  people  of  God  may  find  comfort  for 
their  Souls.     By  T.  H.     Published  according  to  Order,    pp.  (2),  21. 

4°  1646.] 

Title  from  Sabin's  Dicfiojiaiy,  (no.  32841) — where  it  is  attributed  to 
Hooker. 

IS^Heatitonaparnumenos  :  or  a  Treatise  of  Self-Denyall.  Intended 
for  the  Pulpit ;  but  now  committed  to  the  Presse  for  the  Publike  Bene- 
fit.    By  Thomas  Hooker.     London^  Wilson  for  Rich.  Royston^  1646. 

Title  from  Sabin  (no.  32840)  who  evidently  had  not  seen  the  book,  for 
he  does  not  give  the  size  or  number  of  pages.  I  am  confident  this  title 
is  not  (our)  Thomas  Hooker's  :  but  the  book  may  be  a  bookseller's 
make-up  from  "  The  Christians  Two  Chief  Lessons,"  etc.  published  in 
1640. 

POSTHUMOUS. 

A  Survey  of  the  Siimnie  of  Churcli  Discipline.  Wherein,  The 
Way  of  the  Churches  of  New-England  is  -warranted  out  of  the  Word, 
etc.  ...  By  Tho.  Hooker,  late  Pastor  of  the  Church  at  Hartford  upon 
Connecticott  in  N.  England,  pp.  (36)  ;  Part  I.  pp.  139,  (i  blk.),  185- 
296;  Part  II.  pp.  90;  Part  \\\. pp.  46  ;  Part  IN. pp.  59. 

A,°  A.  M.  for  John  Bellamy,  1648. 

The  author's  preface  (18  pp.)  is  followed  by  an  Epistle  to  the  Reader 
(4  pp.)  subscribed  by  Edward  Hopkins  and  William  Goodwin,  Hartford, 
28  Oct.  1647  :  a  Poem  "in  obitum  viri  Doctissimi  Thom^  Hookeri,"  by 
Samuel  Stone  ;  others  by  John  Cotton  and  E.  Rogers  :  and  a  further 
commendation  to  the  reader  by  Thomas  Goodwin,  April  17,  1648. 

This  work,  it  appears,  was  "finished,  and  sent  near  two  years"  earlier, 
to  be  printed ;  but  the  copy  "  was  then  buried  in  the  rude  waves  of  the 
vast  Ocean,  with  many  precious  Saints,  in  their  passage  hither."  Mr. 
Hooker  reluctantly  consented  to  prepare  another  copy  for  the  press, 
but  "  before  the  full  transcribing,  he  was  translated  from  us  to  be  ever 
with  the  Lord." 

To  some  copies  of  the  work,  John  Cotton's  "  The  Way  of  Congrega- 
tional Churches  cleared,"  was  appended,  and  a  general  title,  including 
both  works,  prefixed  to  the  volume.  Mr.  Cotton's  treatise  continues 
the  answers  to  Rutherford,  begun  by  Mr.  Hooker  in  Part  I.  Chap.  10, 
of  the  Survey.  That  chapter  ends  on  p.  139,  the  next  page  is  blank, 
and  Chapter  11  begins  on  the  next  page  following,  numbered  185,  with 
a  new  signature.  It  may  have  been  the  intention  of  the  editors  to 
incorporate  Mr.  Cotton's  work  with  Hooker's,  in  this  division  of  the 
Survey, — or  the  former  may  have  been  substituted  for  Hooker's  unfin- 
ished notes. 


APPENDIX   V. 


441 


The  Covenant  of  Grace  opened :  wherein  These  particulars  are  han- 
dled ;  viz.  I.  What  the  Covenant  of  Grace  is,  2.  What  the  Seales  of 
the  Covenant  are,  3.  Who  are  the  Parties  and  Subjects  fit  to  receive 
these  Seales.  From  all  which  Particulars  Infants  Baptisme  is  fully 
proved  and  vindicated.  Being  severall  Sermons  preached  at  Hartford 
in  New-England.  By  that  Reverend  and  faith  full  Minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel, Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,    pp.  (2),  85.  4°  G.  Dawson,  1649. 

The  Saints  Diirnitie  and  Dntie.  Together  with  The  Danger  of 
Ignorance  and  Hardnesse.  Delivered  in  severall  Sermons.  By  that 
Reverend  Divine  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  Late  Preacher  in  New-England. 
pp.  (12),  246.  4°  G.  D[awson],  for  Francis  Eglesfeld,  165 1 

Seven  sermons:  i.  The  Gift  of  Gifts :  or.  The  End  why  Christ 
gave  Himself  {Titus  2.  14):  2.  The  Blessed  Inhabitant :  or,  The  Ben- 
efit of  Christ's  being  in  Beleevers  {Rom.  8.  10)  ;  3.  Grace  Magnified: 
or  the  Priviledges  of  those  that  are  under  Grace  {Rom.  6.  14) ;  4.  Wis- 
domes  Attetidants :  or  The  Voice  of  Christ  to  be  obeyed  {Prov.  8.  32) : 

5.  The  Activitie   of  Faith :   or    Abraham's    Imitators   {Rom.  4.    12) : 

6.  Culpad/e  Ignorance:  or  the  Danger  of  Ignorance  under  Meanes 
{Is.  27.  II) :  7.  Willfull  Hardnesse:  or  the  Meanes  of  Grace  Abused 
Prov.  29.  21).  Each  sermon  has  a  full  title-page,  with  imprint  as  in  the 
general  title:  and  probably  each  was  sold  separately— though  the 
paging  is  continuous. 

The  preface,  signed  T.  S.  [Thomas  Shepard]  shows  that  this  volume 
was  prepared  for  the  press  by  Mr.  Hooker's  son-in-law. 

A  Comment  upon  Christ's  Last  Prayer  In  the  Seventeenth  of 
John.  Wherein  is  opened.  The  Vnion  Beleevers  have  with  God  and 
Christ,  and  the  Glorious  Priviledges  thereof  ....  By  ..  Mr.  Thomas 
Hooker,  etc.  .  .  Printed  from  the  Author's  own  Papers,  .  .  .  and  attested 
to  be  such  ...  by  Thomas  Goodwin  and  Philip  Nye.    pp.  (26),  532. 

4°  Peter  Cole,  1656. 

Half-title,  on  p.  i  :  "  Mr.  Hooker's  Seventeenth  Book  made  in  New- 
England."  A  series  of  sermons  on  John  17.  20-26,  preached,  at  the 
administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  last  years  of  Mr.  Hooker's 
pastorate. 

The  numbering  of  the  volume  as  "  Mr.  Hooker's  Seventeenth  Book  " 
has  given  some  trouble  to  the  bibliographers.  Of  a  collection  of  seven- 
teen "books" — each  comprising  one  or  more  sermons — sent  to  England 
for  pubhcation,  the  first  eight  were  published  together,  by  P.  Cole,  1656 
[and  1657]  under  the  general  title  of  "The  Application  of  Redemption," 
etc.  ;  and  two  others,  the  ninth  and  tenth,  made  a  second  volume  under 
the  same  title.  Six  others  (the  eleventh  to  the  sixteenth,  inclusive) 
were  announced  by  Cole,  in  i656,?as  "  now  printing,  in  two  volumes  "— 
56 


442 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD. 


but  I  find  no  evidence  that  they  were  ever  laublished.  The  seventeenth 
"  and  last,"  (as  Cole  announced  it)  was  "  A  Comment  upon  Christ's 
Prayer,"  etc. 

The  Application  of  Redemption.  By  the  Effectual  Work  of  the 
Word,  and  Spirit  of  Christ,  for  the  bringing  home  of  lost  Sinners  to 
God.  [The  first  Eight  Books.]  .  .  By  .  .  .  Thomas  Hooker,  etc. 
Printed  from  the  Authour's  Papers,  .  .  with  .  .  an  Epistle  by  Thomas 
Goodwin,  and  Philip  Nye.    pp.  (46),  451.  8°  1657. 

The  title  and  collation  are  from  Sabin  :  but  the  Catalogue  of  the  Red 
Cross  (Dr.  Williams's)  Library  mentions  two  editions  of  1656,  one  in 
octavo,  the  other  in  quarto. 

The  Application  of  Redemption,  etc.  The  Ninth  and  Tenth 
Books  .  .  Printed  from  the  Author's  Papers,  Written  with  his  own 
hand.  And  attested  to  be  such,  in  an  Epistle,  By  Thomas  Goodwin 
and  Philip  Nye.    pp.  (22),  702,  (30).  4°  Peter  Cole,  1657. 

The  same.     The  Second  Edition,    pp.  (22),  702,  (30). 

4°  Peter  Cole,  1659. 

The  prefatory  epistle  of  Goodwin  and  Nye  gives,  in  brief,  the  history 
of  this  work,  and,  incidentally,  of  many  of  the  earlier  editions  of  Hook- 
er's sermons.  "  Many  parts  and  pieces  of  this  Author,  upon  this 
argument,  sermon-wise,  preach'd  by  him  here  in  England,  .  .  .  having 
been  taken  by  an  unskilful  hand,  which,  upon  his  recess  into  those 
remoter  parts  of  the  World,  was  bold  without  his  privity  or  consent  to 
print  and  publish  them,  .  .  .  his  genuine  meaning  was  diverted  .  .  . 
from  the  clear  draft  of  his  own  notions  and  intentions.  ...  In  these 
Treatises,  thou  hast  his  Heart  from  his  own  Hand,  his  own  Thoughts 
drawn  by  his  own  Pencil,"  etc.  He  had  preached  more  briefly  of  this 
subject,  first,  while  a  Fellow  and  Catechist  at  Emmanuel  College,  and 
again,  many  years  after,  more  largely,  at  Chelmsford, — '^  the  product  of 
which  was  those  books  of  Sermons  that  have  gone  under  his  natne, — 
and  last  of  all,  now  in  New-England." 


APPENDIX  VI. 

(see  page  1 8 1.) 
poems  on  mr.  stone. 

Edward  Johnson's  verses  :   In  Wonder-working  Providence. 

Thou  well-smoth'd  Stone  Christs  work-manship  to  be  : 
In's  Church  new  laid  his  weake  ones  to  support, 

With's  word  of  might  his  foes  are  foikl  by  thee  ; 
Thou  daily  dost  to  godlinesse  exhort. 

The  Lordly  Prelates  people  do  deny 

Christs  Kingly  power  Hosanna  to  proclaime, 

Mens  mouths  are  stopt,  but  Stone  poore  dust  doth  try, 
Throughout  his  Churches  none  but  Christ  must  raigne. 

Mourne  not  Oh  Man,  thy  youth  and  learning's  spent 
In  desart  Land  :  my  Muse  is  bold  to  say, 

For  glorious  workes  Christ  his  hath  hither  sent; 
Like  that  great  worke  of  Resurection  day. 


To  my  Reverend  Dear  Brother  Mr.  SAMUEL  STONE,  Teacher  of  the  Church  at  Hartford. 

How  well  (dear  Brother)  art  thou  called  Stone? 

As  sometimes  Christ  did  Si/non  Cephas  own, 

A  Stone  for  solid  firmness  fite  to  rear 

A  part  in  Zions  wall :  and  it  upbear. 

Like  Stone  of  Bolian,  Bounds  fit  to  describe 

Twixt  Church  and  Church,  as  that  twixt  Tribe  and  Tribe. 

Like  Sanmefs  Stone,  erst  Eben-Ezer  hight ; 

To  tell  the  Lord  hath  helpt  us  with  his  might. 

Like  Stone  in  Davids  sling,  the  head  to  wound 

Of  that  huge  Giant-Church,  (so  far  renowned) 

Hight  the  Church-Cathohcke,  Oecumenical, 

Or,  at  the  lowest  compass.  National ; 

Yet  Poteck,  Visible,  and  of  such  a  fashion, 

As  may  or  Rule  a  world  or  Rule  a  Nation. 


444  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 

Which  though  it  be  cry'd  up  unto  the  Skys, 

By  Philistines  and  Isralites  likewise  ; 

Yet  seems  to  me  to  be  too  neer  a  kin 

Unto  the  Kingdom  of  the  Man  of  sin  : 

In  frame,  and  state,  and  constitution, 

Like  to  the  Jirs/  beast  in  the  Revelation. 

Which  was  as  large  as  Roman  empire  wide. 

And  Ruled  Ro7ne,  and  all  the  world  beside. 

Go  on  (good  Brother)  Gird  thy  Sword  with  might, 

Fight  the  Lord's  Battels,  Plead  his  Churches  Right. 

To  Brother  Hooker,  thou  art  next  a  kin, 

By  Office-Right  thou  must  his  pledge  Redeem. 

Take  thou  the  double  portion  of  his  Spirit, 

Run  on  his  Race,  and  then  his  Crown  inherit. 

Now  is  the  time  when  Church  is  millitant. 

Time  hastneth  fast  when  it  shall  be  Tryumphant. 

JOHN  COTTON. 

[The  copy  of  Stone's  Congregatiotuil  Church  a  Catholike  Visible  Church  in  the  Connecticut 
Historical  Library,  to  which  the  foregoing  verses  of  John  Cotton's  are  prefaced,  is  a  presentation 
copy  by  Mr.  Stone  to  Rev.  Michael  Wigglesworth,  and  the  inscription,  in  Mr.  Stone's  hand, 
records  the  date  of  the  gift  as  Aug.  3,  1653.] 


A  Threnodia  upo7i  07tr  Churches  second  dark  Eclipse,  happening  July  20,  1663,  by  DeatVs 
Interposition  between  ns  atid  that  great  light  and  Divine  Plant,  Mr.  Samuel  Stone, /rt^t'  0/ 
Hartford,  in  New  England. 

Last  Spring  this  Summer  may  be  Autumn  styl'd, 

Sad  withering  Fall  our  Beauties  which  despoyl'd 

Two  choicest  Plants,  our  A'ortoji  and  our  Stone, 

Your  Justs  threw  down  ;  removed  away  are  gone. 

One  Year  brought  Stone  and  Norton  to  their  Mother, 

In  one  Year  April,  July  them  did  smother. 

Dame  Cambridge  Mother  to  this  darling  Son  ; 

Emanuel,  NortJiainpt''  that  heard  this  one, 

Essex  our  Bay,  Hartford  in  Sable  clad. 

Come  bear  your  parts  in  this  Threnodia  sad. 

In  losing  One,  Church  many  lost :  Oh  then 

Many  for  One,  come  be  sad  singing  men. 

May  Nature,  Grace,  and  Art  be  found  in  one 

So  high  as  to  be  found  vcvfeiv  or  none? 

In  him  these  Three  with  full  fraught  hand  contested 

With  which  by  each  he  should  be  most  invested. 

The  Largest  of  the  Three  it  was  so  great 

On  him  the  Stone  was  held  a  Light  compleat. 


APPENDIX   VI. 


445 


A  Stone  more  than  the  Ebenezer  fain'd  ; 

Stone  splendent  Diamond,  right  Orient  nam'd  ; 

A  Cordial  Stone,  that  often  cheared  hearts 

With  pleasant  Wit,  with  Gospel  rich  imparts  : 

Whet-Stone,  that  Edgefi'd  th'  obtrusest  Mind ; 

Load-Stone,  that  drew  the  Iron  Heart  unkind  ; 

A  Ponderous  Stone,  that  would  the  bottom  sound 

Of  Scripture-depths,  and  bring  out  Arcan''s  found  ; 

A  Stone  for  Kingly  David's  use  so  fit, 

As  would  not  fail  GoliaJi's  Front  to  hit : 

A  Stone,  an  Antidote,  that  break  the  course 

Of  Gangrene  Error  by  Convincing  force  ; 

A  Stone  Acute,  fit  to  divide  and  square  ; 

A  Squared  Stone,  became  Christ's  Building  rare  ; 

A  Peter'' s  Liinng  lively  Stone  (so  Rear'd) 

As  'live  was  Hartford^ s  life  ;  dead  A&2i\\\  is  fear'd. 

In  Hartford  old,  Stofie  first  drew  Infant-breath, 

In  A'^ew  effus'd  his  last :  O  there  beneath 

His  Corps  are  laid,  near  to  his  darling  Brother, 

Of  whom  dead  oft  he  sigh'd  Not  such  Another. 

Heaven  is  the  more  desirable  (said  he) 

For  Hooker,  Shepard,  and  Haynes  Company. 

E.  B  [ULKLEY  ?J. 


MR.  STONE'S  WILL 

AND 

INVENTORY  OF  HIS  ESTATE. 

The  last  Will  and  Testament  of  the  Reverend  M''  Samu   Stone,  late 
teacher  of  tJie  Church  of  X  at  Hartford,  who  deceased  July  20,  1663. 

Inasmuch  as  all  men  on  earth  are  mortall,  and  the  time  of  dying  w"' 
the  maner  thereof  is  only  forenowne  and  predetermined  by  the  Majestie 
on  high,  and  that  it  is  a  duty  incumbent  on  all  so  farr  forth  to  have  their 
house  set  in  order,  as  considerately  to  determine  and  dispose  of  all 
their  outward  estate,  consisting  in  Heredetaments,  Lands,  Chattells, 
goods  of  what  kind  soever,  w"'  all  and  either  there  appurtenaunces,  to 
severall  persons,  that  Righteousness  and  peace  w'''  love  might  be  mayn- 
tained  for  the  future,  and  whereas  at  this  present :  That  I  Samuel  Stone, 
of  Hartford,  vpon  Cofiecticut,  am  by  a  gracious  visitation  and  warneing 
from  the  Lord  invited  and  called  to  hasten  this  present  duty  and  ser- 
uice  for  ends  premised,  Being  through  the  gentle  and  tender  dealeing 
of  the  Lord  in  full  and  perfect  memorie,  make  and  appoint  this  as  my 
last  Will  and  Testament  as  followes  : 


446  THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD. 

Imp.  :  It  is  my  will  that  M'".  Elizabeth  Stone,  my  loving  wife,  shall 
be  my  true  and  sole  executrix  of  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament,  and 
that  w"'out  any  intanglem'  or  snare  :  the  legacies  given  to  herself 
being  firstly  possessed,  all  and  every  of  them  as  they  follow,  and  the 
after  legacies  to  be  made  good  out  of  y"  remayneing  estate  if  sufficient, 
otherwise  a  distribution  according  to  that  proportion,  yet  if  there  happen 
any  overpluss  to  be  wholly  and  solely  at  the  disspose  of  my  sayd  wife. 
AUso  I  give  unto  my  sayd  wife  (during  the  terme  of  her  life)  half  my 
houseing  and  lands  w"4n  the  liberties  of  Hartford,  and  to  have  the  free 
dispose  of  the  value  of  the  sayd  halfe  of  my  lands  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  by  legacy  or  otherwise.  Allso  farther  it  is  my  will  and  I  doe 
freely  give  unto  my  wife  all  the  household  stuff  that  I  had  w"'  her  when 
I  marryd  her,  to  be  at  her  free  and  full  dispose  as  shee  shall  see  cause, 
other  gifts  which  are  more  casuall,  appeare  in  the  legacies  following: 

Itt :  Allso,  as  my  last  Will  and  Testament,  and  in  token  of  my  far- 
therly  loue  and  care,  I  doe  freely  giue  and  bequeath  unto  my  son 
Samuel  Stone  at  the  time  of  my  deceasse  the  other  halfe  of  my  house- 
ing and  lands  w"'in  the  liberties  of  Hartford  afoarsayed  and  the  other 
halfe  of  the  houseing  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  my  sayd  wife,  freely 
w"'out  any  valuable  consideration  to  be  in  anywise  required,  as  allso 
the  other  halfe  of  y''  Land,  but  upon  a  valuable  consideration  as  before 
premised  in  the  Legacy  given  to  my  deare  and  louing  wife.  Allso 
farther  I  doe  freely  giue  unto  my  sayd  sonne  all  my  Bookes  excepting 
such  as  are  otherwise  disposed  of  in  this  my  sayd  last  Will  and  Testa- 
ment :  But,  provided  my  sonne  Samuell  rieparte  this  life  before  he  is 
marryed,  that  then  the  whole  of  this  my  present  legacy  remayneing 
shall  returne  to  and  be  wholly  at  y'^  disspose  of  my  sayd  louing  wife. 

Itt:  Allso  unto  my  daughter  Elizabeth,  I  doe  giue  and  order  to  be 
payd  the  full  sume  of  one  hundred  pounds  in  household  goods,  chattells 
and  other  countrey  pay,  what  my  louing  wife  can  best  part  w"'all,  or  in 
two  or  three  acres  of  Land  at  price  currant  before  the  sayd  Land  be 
diuided  betwixt  my  louing  wife  and  sonne  as  afoarsaid,  and  this  sayd 
legacy  to  be  performed  and  made  good  w"'in  two  years  after  the  mar- 
riage of  my  sayd  daughter  Elizabeth,  provided  that  if  my  sayd  daughter 
shall  match  or  dispose  of  herself  in  marriage  either  w"'out  or  crosse  to 
the  minde  of  her  dear  mother  my  louing  wife  afoarsayd,  and  the  mind 
and  consent  of  my  louing  ouerseers  hereinafter  mentioned,  then  this 
my  last  will  concerning  her  to  stand  voyd,  and  she  gladly  to  accept  of 
such  a  summe  and  quantity  of  portion  as  her  said  mother  shall  freely 
dispose  to  her  or :  And  in  case  my  said  Daughter  shall  dye  and  depart 
this  world  before  shee  receiue  her  sayd  portion,  the  whole  thereof  shall 
fully  returne  and  belong  vnto  my  sayd  wife  at  her  dispose. 

Itt:  Allso  (as  a  token  of  my  fatherly  love  and  respect)  I  doe  giue  unto 
my  three  daughters,  Rebeccah,  Mary  and  Sarah,  forty  shillings,  each  of 


APPENDIX   VI. 


447 


them  to  be  payd  them  by  my  dear  wife  in  household  stuffe,  as  it  shall 
be  prized  in  Inventory.  And  farther  whereas  the  Honored  Court  of 
this  Colony  were  pleased  to  giue  or  grante  a  farme  unto  me,  Acknowl- 
edging there  favoure  therein  and  requesting  them  to  assigne  the  same 
unto  my  sonn  and  deare  wife  in  some  conuenient  place,  where  they 
may  receive  benefitt  by  it,  to  whom  I  doe  freely  give  the  same  indiffer- 
ently both  for  the  present  benefitt  and  future  disspose  : 

And  farther  itt  is  my  desire  that  such  of  my  manuscripts  as  shall  be 
judged  fitt  for  to  be  printed,  my  Reverend  Friend,  M''  John  Higginson 
pastor  of  the  church  of  X'  at  Salem  may  haue  the  peruseall  of  them, 
and  fit  them  for  the  press,  especially  my  catechisme. 

And  that  my  louing  wife  may  have  some  direct  refuge  for  aduise  and 
helpfullness  in  all  cases  of  difficulty  in  and  about  all  or  any  of  the  prem- 
ises my  great  desire  is  that  my  Brethren  and  friends  M''  Mathew  Allyn, 
Broth.  W'"  Wadsworth,  M""  John  Allyn  and  my  sonn  Joseph  Fitch 
would  affoarde  their  best  assistance,  whome  of  this  my  last  will  and  testa- 
ment I  doe  constitute  as  my  most  desired  overseers,  nothing  doubting 
of  their  readiness  herein,  and  unto  whome  w"'  my  loveing  wife  I  doe 
leave  the  disposal  of  my  sonne  Samuel  and  daughter  Ii!lizabeth  to  be 
aduised  and  counselled  in  the  feare  of  the  Lord. 

Subscribed  by  me 

SAMUEL  STONE. 
In  the  presence  and  witnesse  of 

Bray  Rosseter. 

An  Inventory  of  the  goods  and  chattells  of  M'-  Sam"  Stone  the  late 
Reverend  teacher  of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Hartford,  who  departed 
this  life  July  the  2o'i>,  1663. 

Imprimis.     In  his  purss  and  apparell, 

In  the  Hall.     In  a  table,  joynt  stooles  and  chairs. 

In  a  Trammell  Andirons  Tongs  and  Bellowes, 

In  a  cuboard. 

In  a  feather  bed,  Pillowes,  Bowlsters,  rug,  Blanckets, 

curtains,  strawbed,  ^9         15 

In  one  flock  bed,  Bowlster,  rug.  Blanket,  a  great  bed- 
stead, a  Trucle  b.,  03         10 

In y  Parlo  .     In  a  table  forme,  carpett,  joynt  stooles, 

chayres,  03         16 

In  a  chest  of  drawers,  a  green  cupboard,  cloth,  Glass  . 
case. 

In  a  payer  of  Scales,  weights,  hower  glass,  andirons. 

In  two  glass  cases,  Hamer,  gimlet,  cushion. 

In  y   Closet.     In  plate  in  seuerall  peices, 


L 

s. 

dd. 

18 

13 

00 

01 

04 

00 

01 

05 

06 

00 

09 

GO 

02 

18 

00 

GO 

13 

GO 

GG 

12 

06 

06 

16 

00 

oo 

17 

00 

oo 

IS 

00 

oo 

05 

06 

OI 

04 

00 

OI 

16 

00 

04 

II 

00 

01 

01 

00 

00 

07 

00 

01 

03 

06 

02 

00 

00 

01 

03 

00 

01 

14 

00 

00 

17 

00 

06 

03 

00 

03 

01 

00 

00 

05 

00 

448  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 

In  a  flagon,  pinte  pot,  spoones,  cutting  knife. 

In  a  lanthoren,  Line,  Trenchers,  six  saucers. 

In  a  halfe  Bushell,  glass  case, 

In  Bees  wax  and  Honey  and  earthen  ware. 

In  a  Baskett,  wooden  ware,  Butter,  candles,  china  ware,  01 

In  the  Kitchen.     In  Pewter  40"^  and  pewter  Bason, 

candlesticks, 
In  three  Brasse  Candlesticks,  three  Chamber  potts. 
In  five  porrengers,  small  Brasse  Candlesticks, 
In  tin  ware,  earthen  ware,  three  brass  skilletts, 
In  Iron  Potts,  Pot  Hooks,  In  wooden  ware. 
In  pailes,  siues,  Tubbs,  meal  Trough,  Baskett, 
In  a  Table,  Jack  Spitts,  Gridiron,  frying  pan, 
In  a  Mortar  pestle,  Trammells  a  piece  of  Iron,  Tonges,  00 
In  a  Brass  Copper,  Kettles,  cheespresse.  Bake  pan. 
In  a  churne,  cupboard,  a  Barrell  of  Beif  Tallow, 
In  two  Tubbs, 
In   the   Celler.      In     Cheese,     Cyder,    Aples,    Table, 

Woodeft  ware,  04         19 

In  the  Pm-ld'  Cha?nber.     In  a  liuery  Cub-board,  Andi- 

orns,  Bedsted,  2  Chests,  03         05 

In   cushions,    Curtaines    &    Valions,    Boulsters    and 

Pillowes,  Brushes,  blancketts, 
In  Goods,  Broadcloth  searge, 

In  earthen  ware,  Two  sadles.  Napkins,  Table  Cloath, 
In  Napkins,  sheets,  pillow  Beers,  Towels,   sheets  & 

glasses,  a  wheel  &  reale,  a  press,  Napkins,  09         19 

/;/  the  Kitchen  Chamber.     In  a  bedsteed,  pillowes, 

rugg,  forme. 
In  y  Hall  Chamber.     In  a  Table,  bedsteed,  cutlash. 
In  a  Bed,  boulster  pillow,  curtaines  &  valliance, 
In  a  Rugg,  Blanketts,  sheets, 

/«  the  Stndy.     In  Tables,  chayres,  chest. 

In  Andiorns,  Tonges,  firepan. 

In  Bookes,  &c.. 

In  the  Garrett.     In  Cask,  Bedsteeds,  Indian  Corne, 

In  a  Trunkle  Bedsted  &  Bed, 

In  pease  &  wheat  &  caske, 

In  Mault, 

In  Woole, 

In  Cattle, 

In  Sheep  &  Swine, 


07 

18 

00 

07 

14 

00 

03 

04 

00 

01 

00 

00 

01 

00 

00 

04 

05 

00 

05 

14 

00 

139 

03 

00 

001 

01 

00 

000 

10 

00 

127 

00 

00 

002 

12 

00 

003 

00 

00 

001 

18 

00 

001 

07 

00 

001 

00 

00 

029 

10 

00 

010 

00 

00 

APPENDIX   VI.  44g 

In  House  &  Home  lott, 
In  Meadow  20  Acres, 
In  fewer  seuerall  wood  lotts, 
In  two  hiues  of  Bees, 
Mow  Hay, 

Sume  totall  is,  £5^3 

Apprized  Nouember  1663 

p  nos  John  Allyn 

Will  :  Wadsworth. 


100 

00 

00 

129 

00 

00 

010 

00 

00 

001 

00 

00 

006 

00 

GO 

57 


APPENDIX  VII. 

(SEE  PAGE   242.) 
DEATH    OF    SAMUEL    STONE    {second). 

This  letter  of  John  Whiting  to  Increase  Mather  is  published  in 
Volume  VIII  (Fourth  series),  Mass.  Hist.  Society  Collections,  pp. 
469-472. 

These  for  the  Reverend  Mr.   Increase  Mather,  Teacher  to  the  Church. 

Rev'^  S'., — I  received  yours  of  the  6'i'  instant,  and  thank  you  for  the 
intelligence  therein  giuen.  Gour.  Eaton  and  Haines  were  both  walking 
in  the  day,  and  both  died  in  the  night  by  a  suddain  surprise  :  I  haue 
communicated  your  desire  to  Capt:  Ffitch.  Since  my  last  here  is  another 
dreadfully  tremendous  providence  fallen  out  in  the  death  of  poore  Mr. 
Stone,  the  short  of  whose  sinfull  life  and  sorrowful  death  is  this.  Sam" 
Stone  (the  son  and  heire  of  Mr.  Sam"  Stone,  the  first  Teacher  of  the 
Church  in  Hartford)  whose  abilities,  naturall  and  acquired,  were  so  con- 
siderably raised,  that  he  preached  some  years  in  severall  places,  with  a 
generall  acceptation  among  those  that  heard  him,  as  to  the  gift  part  of 
his  work  therein  :  He  long  since  fell  into  a  course  of  notorious  drunk- 
enes,  pretending  a  certaine  infirmity  of  body  with  an  ifiocent  and  nec- 
essary use  of  strong  drink  to  relieve  him  against  it,  so  as  no  endeavours 
of  magistrates,  ministers,  &c.,  could  reach  him  to  any  conviction,  but 
he  continued  an  habituall  drunkard  for  sundry  yeares  ;  yet  still  professing 
and  defending  himselfe  to  be  as  faultles  therein  as  the  child  unborne. 
His  precious,  godly  mother  (whose  life  was  sometimes  hazarded,  before 
she  dyed,  through  the  greife  she  receiued  by  hard  words  and  wretched 
cariages  she  met  with  from  him  on  the  forementioned  account :  whence 
some  that  had  occasion  to  obserue  it,  feared  an  untimely  end  would 
ouertake  him,  unless  an  eminent  repentance  were  giuen.)  His  Mother 
desiring  the  churches  forbearance  of  censure,  till  a  solemne  day  were 
kept  for  him  :  which  it  was  accordingly  done  [May  '81]  by  sundry  min- 
isters and  other  faithful  .  .  .  himselfe  refusing  to  be  there  because  (as 
he  said)  he  would  not  dally  with  God  in  desiring  conviction  about  a 
matter,  wherein  he  knew  himselfe  fully  cleare.  Whereupon  after  much 
patience  and  pains  used,  the  Church  proceeded  to  an  excommunication, 
in  which  state  he  continued  without  any  repentance  or  reformation  man- 


APPENDIX    VII. 


451 


ifested  to  his  dying  hower.  He  wasted  his  whole  estate  (lying  in  a  very 
comfortable  house,  a  considerable  quantity  of  land,  and  a  good  Library, 
left  him  by  his  worthy  ffatherj  to  satisfy  and  serue  that  sordid  lust,  and 
so  dyed  in  debt :  —  :  Upon  the  8^''  of  S^'",  1683,  he  went  from  the  house 
where  he  lived,  about  noone  ;  was  among  his  companions  first  at  one, 
and  then  at  another  Taverne,  and  thence  went  in  the  evening,  to  a 
ffriends  house,  where  his  discourse  was  bitter  and  offensiue  to  some 
present;  but  going  thence,  the  night  being  very  dark,  was  found  the 
next  morning  dead  in  the  little  Riuer  that  runs  through  the  town  of 
Hartford  ;  having  missed  the  bridge.  He  fell  down  upon  the  Rocks, 
and  thence  rowled,  or  some  way  gott  into  the  water  at  a  little  distance, 
and  there  lay  dead  at  breake  of  day.  A  terrible  instance  of  the  infatu- 
atings  of  sin,  and  fearful  severity  of  Israel's  Holy  One  against  it ;  that 
in  this  dreadfull  example,  amongst  many  others,  loudly  proclaimes  tlie 
coinand,  Eccles  :  7:  17,  and  the  threatening  :  Proverb :  29,  i. 

I  haue  giuen  you  the  sum  of  this  lamentable  story.  The  Lord  make 
this  awfuU  death  powerfully  instructive  and  awakening  to  thou  that 
Hue  :  — 

If  anything  in  this  or  any  other  passages  I  have  formerly  written  may 
be  of  publick  usefulnes,  I  leaue  it  to  your  prudence,  only  requesting  a 
concealement  of  my  name,  and  what  you  judge  unmeete  under  present 
circumstances  for  a  publick  view,  especially  in  the  matter  of  the  Wake- 
mans,  relating  to  Bishop  B  :  — :  The  Lord  assist  and  succeed  you  in 
all  your  holy  labours  for  the  good  of  soules,  unto  his  glory,  in  whom  I 
am  Yours  sincerely, 

J"  WHITING. 

Hartford,  8"«'  17,  1683. 


APPENDIX  VIII. 

(see  page  266.) 
SAYBROOK  ARTICLES. 

ARTICLES. 

For  tJie  AdDiinistration  of  CJntrcJi  Discipline^  UnanimoJisIy  Agreed 
upon  and  Consented  to  by  the  Elders  and  all  the  Churches  in  the  Colony 
of  Co)i)iecticnt,  in  New  England,  Convened  by  Delegation  iji  a  General 
Cotcncil  at  Say  Brook,  Sep.  9"'  1708. 

I.  That  the  Elder,  or  Elders  of  a  particular  Church,  with  the  Con- 
sent of  the  Brethren  of  the  same,  have  power  and  ought  to  exercise 
Church  Discipline  according  to  the  Rule  of  God's  Word,  in  Relation  to 
all  Scandals  that  fall  out  within  the  same.  And  it  may  be  meet  in  all 
cases  of  Difficulty  for  the  Respective  Pastors  of  particular  Churches 
to  take  advice  of  the  Elders  of  the  Churches  in  the  Neighbourhood, 
before  they  proceed  to  censure  in  such  Cases.  Mat.  18.  17,  Heb.  13.  17. 
I.  Cor.  5.  4,  5,  12.     2  Cor.  2,  6.     Prov.  1 1,  14.     Act.  15.  2. 

II.  That  the  Churches,  which  are  Neighbouring  each  to  other,  shall 
Consociate  for  mutual  affording  to  each  other  such  Assistance,  as  may 
be  requisite,  upon  all  occasions  Ecclesiastical  :  And  that  the  particu- 
lar Pastors  &^  Churches.,  within  the  respective  Counties  in  this  Govern- 
ment shall  be  one  Consociation  (or  more  if  they  shall  judge  meet)  for 
the  end  aforesaid.  Psal.  122.  3,  4,  5,  6r*  133.  i.  Eccl.  4.  9  to  12.  Act. 
15.  2,  6,  22,  23.     I  Tini.\.  14.     I  Cor.  I6.  i. 

III.  That  all  Cases  of  Scandal,  that  fall  out  Within  the  Circuit  of 
any  of  the  Aforesaid  ConsQcialions  shall  be  brought  to  a  Council  of 
the  Elders  &  Also  Messengers  of  the  Churches,  within  the  said  Cir- 
cuit, /.  e.  the  Churches  of  one  Consociation,  if  they  see  cause  to  send 
Messengers,  when  there  shall  be  need  of  a  Council  for  the  Determina- 
tion of  them.  3  Job.  ver.  9,  10.  i  Cor.  16.  i.  Gal.  6.  i,  2.  2  Cor. 
13.  2.     Act.  15.  23.     2  Cor.  8.  23. 

IV.  That  according  to  the  Common  practice  of  our  Churches  noth- 
ing shall  be  deemed  an  Act  or  Judgement  of  any  Council,  which  hath 
not  the  major  part  of  the  Elders  present  Concurring,  and  such  a  num- 


APPENDIX   VIII. 


453 


ber  of  the  Messengers  present  as  makes  the  Majority  of  the  Council :' 
Provided  that  if  any  such  Church  shall  not  see  cause  to  send  any  Mes- 
sengers to  the  Council,  or  the  persons  Chosen  by  them  shall  not  attend  ; 
neither  of  these  shall  be  any  obstruction  to  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Council,  or  Invalidate  any  of  their  Acts.     Acts  15.  23.     i  Co}'.  14.  32,  33. 

V.  That  when  any  Case  is  Orderly  brought  before  any  Council  of 
the  Churches  it  shall  there  be  heard  and  determined  which  (unless 
orderly  removed  from  thence)  shall  be  a  final  Issue,  and  all  parties 
therein  Concerned  shall  sit  down  and  be  determined  thereby.  And  the 
Council  so  hearing,  and  giving  the  Result  or  final  Issue,  in  the  case  as 
aforesaid,  shall  see  their  Determination,  or  Judgement  duly  executed 
and  attended,  in  such  way  or  manner,  as  shall  in  their  Judgement  be 
most  suitable  and  agreeable  to  the  Word  of  God.  Act.  15.  i  C01-.  5. 
5.     2  Cor.  2.  6,  II,  6-=  13.  2.     Phil.  3.  15.     Rojn.  14.  2,  3. 

VI.  That,  if  any  Pastor  &  Church  doth  obstinately  refuse  a  due 
Attendance  &  Conformity  to  the  Determination  of  the  Council,  that 
hath  the  Cognizance  of  the  Case,  and  Determineth  it  as  above,  after 
due  patience  used,  they  shall  be  reputed  guilty  of  Scandalous  Contempt 
&  dealt  with  as  the  Rule  of  God's  Word  in  such  case  doth  provide,  and 
the  Sentence  of  Non-Commiinion  shall  be  declared  against  such  Pastor 
and  Church.  And  the  Churches  are  to  approve  of  the  said  Sentence, 
by  withdrawing  from  the  Communion  of  the  Pastor  and  Church,  which 
so  refused  to  be  healed.  Rom.  16.  17.  Mat.  18.  15,  16,  17,  by  propor- 
tion Gal.  2.  II  to  14.     2  Tl/cs.  3.  6,  14. 

VII.  That,  in  Case  any  difficulties  shall  arise  in  any  of  the  Churches 
in  this  Colony  which  cannot  be  Issued  without  considerable  disquiet, 
that  Church  in  which  they  Arise  (or  that  Minister,  or  Member  aggrieved 
with  them,)  shall  apply  themselves  to  the  Council  of  the  Consociated 
Churches  of  the  Circuit  to  which  the  said  Church  belongs,  who,  if  they 
see  cause  shall  thereupon  convene,  hear,  and  determine  slich  cases 
of  difficulty,  unless  the  matter  bro't  before  them  shall  be  judged 
so  great  in  the  Nature  of  it,  or  so  doubtful  in  the  Issue,  or  of  such 
general  concern,  that  the  said  council  shall  judge  best  that  it  be 
referred  to  a  fuller  council  consisting  of  the  Churches  of  the  other 
Consociation  within  the  same  County,  (or  of  the  next  adjoyning  conso- 
ciation of  another  County,  if  there  be  not  two  consociations  in  the 
County,  when  the  difficulty  ariseth)  who  together  with  themselves  shall 
hear,  judge,  determine,  and  finally  Issue  such  case  according  to  the 
Word  of  God.     Pro.  11.  14.     i  Cor.  14.  33,  &^  14.  24  by  proportion. 

VIII.  That  a  particular  Church,  in  which  any  difficulty  doth  arise, 
may  if  they  see  cause,  call  a  Council  of  the  consociated  ChiircJies  of  the 


454  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 

circuit,  to  which  the  said  Church  belongs,  before  they  proceed  to  sen- 
tence therein,  but  there  is  not  the  same  liberty  to  an  offending  Brother, 
to  call  the  said  Council,  before  the  Church  to  which  he  belongs,  proceed 
to  Excommunication  in  the  said  case,  unless  with  the  consent  of  the 
Church.     Act.  15.  2.     Mat.  18.  15,  16,  17. 

IX.  That  all  the  churches  of  the  respective  consociations  shall 
chuse,  if  they  see  cause  one  or  two  Members  of  each  church,  to  Repre- 
sent them,  in  the  councils  of  the  said  churches,  as  occasion  may  call 
for  them,  who  shall  stand  in  that  capacity,  till  new  be  chosen  for  the 
same  service  unless  any  church  shall  incline  to  chuse  their  Messengers 
a  new,  upon  the  convening  of  such  councils.     Act.  15.  2, 4.     2  Cor.  8.  23. 

X.  That  the  Minister  or  Ministers  of  the  county  Towns,  and  where 
there  are  no  Ministers  in  such  Towns,  the  two  next  Ministers  to  the 
said  Town  shall  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  appoint  a  time  and 
place,  for  the  Meeting  of  the  Elders  and  Messengers  of  the  Churches 
in  the  said  Comity,  in  order  to  their  forming  themselves  into  one  or 
more  consociations,  and  notify  the  said  time  and  place  to  the  Elders 
and  Churches  of  that  County  who  shall  attend  at  the  same,  the  Elders 
in  their  own  persons,  and  the  Churches  by  their  Messengers  if  they 
see  cause  to  send  them.  Which  Elders  and  Messengers  so  Assembled 
in  council,  as  also  any  other  council  hereby  allowed  of,  shall  have  power 
to  adjourn  themselves  as  need  shall  be,  for  the  space  of  one  year, 
after  the  beginning  or  first  Session  of  the  said  council,  and  no  longer. 
And  that  Minister  who  was  chosen  at  the  last  Session  of  any  council,  to 
be  moderator,  shall  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  two  or  more  Elders 
(or  in  case  of  the  moderators  death,  any  two  Elders  of  the  same  con- 
sociation) call  another  council  within  the  circuit,  when  they  shall  judge 
there  is  need  thereof.  And  all  councils  may  prescribe  Rules,  as  occa- 
sion may  Require,  and  whatsoever  they  shall  judge  needful  within  their 
circuit,  for  the  well  performing  and  orderly  managing  the  several  Acts, 
to  be  attended  by  them  or  matters  that  come  under  their  cognizance. 
Phil.  4.  8.     I  Cor.  14.  40.     Phil.  3.  15,  16.     Ro7n.  14.  2,  3. 

XI.  That  if  any  person  or  persons  orderly  complained  of  to  a  council, 
01*  that  are  Witnesses  to  such  complaints,  (having  regular  Notification 
to  appear)  shall  refuse,  or  neglect  so  to  do,  in  the  Place,  and  at  the  Time 
specifyed  in  the  Warning  given,  except  they  or  he  give  some  satisfying 
Reason  thereof  to  the  said  council,  they  shall  be  judged  guilty  of 
Scandalous  contempt.     Col.  2.  5.     Heb.  13.  17.     i  Thes.  5.  14. 

XII.  That  the  Teaching  Elders  of  each  County  shall  be  one  Asso- 
ciation (or  more,  if  they  see  cause)  which   Association  or  Associations 


APPENDIX   VIII. 


455 


shall  Assemble  twice  a  Year  at  least  at  such  time  and  place,  as  they 
shall  appoint,  to  consult  the  duties  of  their  Office,  and  the  common 
Interest  of  the  Churches,  who  shall  consider  and  resolve  Questions  & 
Cases  of  Importance,  which  shall  be  offered  by  any  among  themselves, 
or  others,  who  also  shall  have  power  of  Examining  and  Recommending 
the  candidates  of  the  Ministry  to  the  work  thereof.  Psal.  133.  i. 
Acts.  20.  17,  28  to  32.  Mai.  2.  7.  Mat.  5.  14.  Dent.  17.  8,  9,  10. 
I  Thti.  5.22.     2  Twi.2.  15.     I  7"/;;/.  3.  6,  10.     Ro?n.  10.  15.     i  Tim.  \.  14. 

XIII.  That  the  said  Associated  Pastors  shall  take  notice  of  any 
among  themselves,  that  may  be  accused  of  Scandal,  or  Heresy  unto  or 
cognizable  by  them,  examine  the  matter  carefully,  and  if  they  find  just 
occasion  shall  direct  to  the  calling  of  the  Council,  where  such  offenders 
shall  be  duly  proceeded  against.  Lev.  19.  17.  i  Cor.  5.  6.  Tit.  3.  10, 
II.  Isa.  52.  .11.  Mai.  3.  3.  Tit.  i.  6  to  (^.  Detit.  13.  14.  3  Job, 
verses  9,  10.     Rev.  2.  14,  15.     i  Tini.  i.  20  £r^  4.  14. 

XIV.  That  the  said  Associated  Pastors  shall  also  be  consulted  by 
Bereaved  Churches  belonging  to  their  Association  and  recommend  to 
such  Churches  such  persons,  as  may  be  fit  to  be  called  and  settled  in 
the  Work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry  among  them.  And  if  such  Bereaved 
Churches  shall  not  seasonably  call  and  settle  a  Minister  among  them 
the  said  Associated  Pastors  shall  lay  the  state  of  such  Bereaved 
Church  before  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  that  they  may 
take  such  Order  concerning  them,  as  shall  be  found  Necessary  for  their 
peace  and  edification.  2  Cor.  11.  28.  P/iil.  2.  19,  20,  21.  2  Ti}/i.  2.  15, 
Tit.  I.  6  to  ro.     Isa.  49.  23. 

XV.  That  it  be  recommended  as  Expedient,  that  all  the  Associations 
of  this  Colony  do  meet  in  a  General  Association  by  their  respective 
Delegates,  one  or  more  out  of  each  Association  once  a  Year,  the  first 
Meeting  to  be  at  Hartford,  at  the  time  of  the  General  Election  next 
Ensuing  the  Date  hereof,  and  so  Annually  in  all  the  Counties  succes- 
sively, at  such  time  and  place,  as  they  the  said  Delegates  shall  in  their 
Annual  Meetings  Appoint.     Heb.  13.  i. 


APPENDIX  IX. 

(see  page  30S.) 
TESTIMONY  AGAINST  WHITEFIELD. 

THE   TESTIMONY 

Of  the  North  Association  in  the  County  of  Hartforii,  in  the  Colony  of 
Cfl/inccficnf,  convened  at  Windsor,  Feb.  5,  1744,  5,  against  the  Rev. 
Mr.  George   Whitefield  and  his  Conduct. 

As  the  Errors,  Disorders  and  Confusions,  which,  for  some  years  past, 
have  so  generally  prevailed  through  the  Churches  of  this  Land,  had 
their  Rise  (as  we  apprehend)  from  the  Preaching  and  Management  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  George  Whitefield  in  his  former  visit  to  New-Englattd ; 
and  as  this  same  Gentleman  is  come  into  the  Country  a  second  Time, 
and  has  already  been  admitted  to  preach  in  several  Churches  in  a  neigh- 
boring Province. 

We  the  associated  Ministers  in  the  Northern  Part  of  the  County  of 
Hartford,  think  it  needfull  to  bear  a  pubhck  Testimony  against  him 
and  his  Conduct. 

We  cannot  but  look  upon  Him  as  a  Man  deeply  tinctured  with  is";//// 7^- 
siasm,  as  is  abundantly  evident  from  his  printed  Journals.  And  as  to 
his  Manner  of  Preaching  when  he  was  in  the  Country  before,  we  think 
it  tended  rather  to  move  the  passions  of  the  Weak  and  Ignorant,  than 
to  inform  the  Understanding. 

We  can  by  no  Means  think,  that  his  going  about  from  one  Country 
and  Town  to  another,  to  preach  as  he  has  done,  is  warranted  by  the 
Word  of  God. 

He  appears  to  us  to  have  been  sowing  the  Seeds  of  Discord,  Con- 
tention and  Error  in  these  Churches.  We  cannot  but  look  upon  him 
as  guilty  of  very  uncharitable,  and  unchristian  Reflections  upon  the 
Body  of  the  Ministers  of  this  Land,  the  greater  part^of  whom  he  was 
wholly  a  Stranger  to  ;  his  Conduct  in  this  Matter  we  cannot  but  look 
upon  as  highly  criminal,  being  directly  contrary  to  the  Rules  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  tending  to  destroy  the  Usefulness  of  Ministers  among  their 
People ;  and  until  he  has  made  an  open  and  publick  Acknowledgement 
of  his  offence,  and  publickly  professed  his  Repentance  for  it,  we  think 
he  ought  not  to  be  admitted  to  preach  in  any  of  our  Churches. 

His  unjust  Reproaches  cast  on  our  Colleges,  which  God  has  made 
such  great  Blessings  to  the  Land,  we  think  him  bound  to  retract. 


APPENDIX   IX. 


457 


And  though  it  is  pretended  by  some,  that  Mr.  Whitefield  is  much 
altered  since  he  was  in  the  Country  before,  yet  we  cannot  learn  that  he 
has  given  any  sufficient  Evidence  of  it,  tho',  for  some  Reasons  or  other, 
he  may  forbear  to  act  in  some  Things  as  he  did  before  ;  neither  can  we 
learn  that  he  has  given  any  publick  Satisfaction  for  his  former  Misbe- 
havior, which  we  think  it  his  Duty  to  do. 

And  as  we  know  not  whither  this  itinerating  Gentleman  will  steer 
his  Course,  and  cannot  tell  but  he  will  presume  to  visit  the  Churches 
under  our  Care,  we  have  thought  it  needful  and  proper,  thus  publickly 
to  testify  against  him,  and  his  Management,  hereby  declaring,  that 
under  the  present  Circumstances  of  Things  we  shall  by  no  Means 
admit  him  into  any  of  our  Pulpits,  and  in  Faithfulness  to  the  People 
under  our  respective  Charges,  we  would  solemnly  warn  and  caution 
them,  to  take  Heed  and  beware  of  him. 

Benjamin  Colton,  Pastor  of  a  C/iurch  in  Hartford. 

Stephen  Steel,  Tolland. 

Thomas  White,  Bolton. 

Elnathan  Whitman,         Hartford. 

Daniel  Wadsworth,         Hartford. 

Stephen  Heaton,  Goshen. 

Jonathan  Marsh,  jun.,     {Ne%u)  Hartford. 

We  the  Subscribers,  Members  of  the  North  Association  in  the  County 
of  Hartford,  not  being  present  at  the  last  Meeting  of  said  Association, 
but  having  since  seen  and  perused  the  foregoing  Testimony  relating  to 
Mr.  Whitefield,  do  hereby  signify  our  Approbation  of  it,  and  our  hearty 
Concurrence  with  our  Brethren  therein,  by  subscribing  our  Names 
hereunto. 

Samuel  Whitman,  Pastor  of  a  Church  in  Farviington. 

Samuel  Woodbridge,       Hartford. 

John  McKinstry,  Elenton. 

Timothy  Collins,  Litchfield. 

Daniel  Fuller,  Willington. 

Andrew  Bartholomew,   Han-ington. 

Eli  Colton,  Stafford. 

Elisha  Webster,  Canaan. 

Cyrus  Marsh,  Kent. 


58 


APPENDIX  X. 

(see  page  310.) 

"a    list    of   the    rev.   MR.    DANIEL    WADSWORTH'S    LIBRARY." 

Two  bibles,  one  at  5  &  the  other  at  20  s., 
Patricks  Commentaries  on  the  Bible,  3  vol.  fol., 
Lowths  Commentary  on  the  bible,  I  vol,  fob,     - 
Burket,  Annotations  on  New  Testament,  i  vol.  fob, 
Bedfords  Cronology,  i  vol.  fob,  -  -  -  - 

Willards  Body  of  Divinity,  -  .  .  . 

Crudens  Scripture  Concordance,  ... 

Dr.  Owen  on  the  Hebrews,  .  .  -  . 

Traps  Exposition  on  the  12  Minor  Prophets,    - 
Baxtres  Catholick  Theologie,      -  -  -  - 

Morning  Exercises,  .  -  -  .  . 

WoUastons  Religion  of  Nature  Deliniated, 
Clark  on  the  Cause  and  origin  of  Evil,  2  vols., 
Monsier  Pascals  Thoughts  on  Religion, 
A  Dictionary  of  all  Religions,  Antient  and  Modern,     - 
Clark.  Demonstration  of  the  Being  and  Attributes  of  God, 
Cheny  on  health  &  long  Life,      -  -  -  - 

Wats  on  Geography  &  Astronomy, 
Seasonable  Thoughts  on  the   state  of  ReHgion  :    Dr. 

Chauncey,  .  .  -  .  . 

Jenkins  on  ye    Reasonableness    &    Certainty   of    the 

Christian  Religion,  .  .  .  . 

Sharps  Sermons,  4  vols,  octavo,  - 
Lock  on  the  Human  Understanding,  2  vols., 
Ladys  Library,      -  -  -  - 

The  whole  Duty  of  man, 

Common  prayer  Book,      -  -  -  - 

Dr.  Colemans  Sermons,    -  -  -  - 

Watts  Sermons,  3  vols.,    ----- 
Lock  on  Education,  .  .  - 

Henrys  Method  of  Prayer,  .  .  .  - 

Henry  on  the  Sacrement,  .  .  .  . 

The  Occasion,  2  vols.,     ----- 


I 

5 

0 

33 

0 

0 

ID 

10 

0 

17 

0 

0 

18 

0 

0 

9 

0 

0 

10 

10 

0 

3 

0 

0 

I 

10 

0 

2 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

ID 

0 

2 

10 

0 

I 

ID 

0 

I 

10 

0 

1 

0 

0 

I 

10 

0 

2 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

0 

8 

0 

I 

15 

0 

3 

0 

0 

I 

00 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

ID 

0 

I 

10 

0 

APPENDIX   X. 

Vines  on  the  Lord's  Supper, 

Common  place  Book,        .  -  -  - 

Watts  on  Prayer,  .  .  .  . 

Delaune,  Plea  for  the  Nonconformists,  - 

Vincents  Exposition,         .  .  .  . 

The  Family  Instructor,  2  vols.,    - 

Goughes  Works,  .  -  .  - 

Hoadleys  Sermons,  .  .  .  . 

Laws  Serious  Call,  -  -  -  - 

The  hfe  of  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  - 

Appletons  Sermons,  .  .  .  . 

Higginsons  Sermons,        .  -  -  . 

Willards  Peril  of  the  Times  Displayed, 

Allins  Allarm,        ----- 

Doolittle  on  the  Lords  Supper,    - 

Dr.  Colemans  Sermons  on  Mirth, 

A  funeral  sermon  on  Mr.  Symes, 

Dr.  Mr.  Witch  Book,        -  -  .  - 

Dr.  Increase  Mather  on  Conversion, 

Penhallows  History,  .  .  -  . 

Stoddards  Sermons,  -  .  .  . 

Mr.  Mathers  History  of  Commets, 

Dickinson  on  ye  5  points, 

Williams  on  the  Duty  and  Interest  of  a  people, 

Stoddards  Guide,  etc.,      .  -  -  - 

Shephards  Sincere  Convert, 

Dr.  Doddridge  on  the  power  &  grace  of  Christ, 

A  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith, 

Barnards  Sermons,  .  .  .  . 

Gordons  Geography,         .  .  .  - 

The  practice  of  Quietness, 

Hawness,  Compleat  Measure, 

Gassendis  Astronomy,      -  -  -  - 

Ames  Christian  Theology, 

Ames  Medulla,      -  -  -  -  - 

Greek  Testament,  .  .  .  - 

School  Books,       .  -  -  -  - 

Connecticut  Law  Book,    -  -  -  - 

Heavens  Glory  &  Hells  Terrour, 

One  hundred  and  fifty  pamphlets  at  6  d., 

Gambles  Treatise  upon  Conversion, 

I  Do.    Giles  Fermin,         .  .  -  - 

Secretarys  Guide,  -  .  .  - 

Wright  on  Regeneration,  -  - 


459 


0 

5 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

4 

0 

I 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

2 

5 

0 

0 

14 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

9 

0 

8 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

IS 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

9 

0 

2 

0 

0 

I 

10 

0 

2 

0 

0 

I 

ID 

0 

0 

I 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

8 

0 

I 

0 

0 

6 

ID 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

8 

0 

3 

18 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

IS 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

10 

0 

APPENDIX  XI. 


(see  page  351.) 


SUBSCRIBERS    TO    PAROCHIAL   FUND. 

"  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  subscribers  to  the  aforesaid 
Fund  with  their  respective  sums  annexed  to  each  in  Dollars.  Dated, 
Hartford  6'*'  of  December  1802." 

Jeremiah  Wadsworth,  Esq., 
John  Caldwell,  Esq., 
George  Goodwin,  Esq., 
Ephraim  Root,  Esq., 
Samuel  Lawrence,  Esq., 
Jonathan  Brace,  Esq., 
George  Caldwell,  Esq., 
William  Mosely,  Esq., 
Isaac  Bull, 
Jacob  Sergeant, 
Simeon  Clark, 
Enoch  Perkins,  Esq., 
Timothy  Burr, 
Thomas  Bull, 
Ezekiel  Williams,  jr., 
Isaac  Bliss, 

Asa  &  Daniel  Hopkins, 
Eliakim  Fish, 
Aaron  Chapin, 
James  Hosmer, 
Roger  Cogswell, 
David  Porter, 
Chauncey  Goodrich,  Esq., 
Sam'l  &  W"  Wyllys,  Esq., 
Charles  Mather, 
Spencer  Whiting, 
George  Smith, 
Theodore  Dwight,  Esq., 
Jon-'  W.  Edwards, 


300 

Normand  Smith, 

30 

100 

Benj.  Bigelow, 

30 

I  GO 

Peter  W.  Gallaudet, 

SO 

100 

Tim"  P.  Perkins, 

30 

100 

James  H.  Wells, 

30 

100 

Dwell  Morgan, 

SO 

100 

Eli  Ely, 

30 

100 

David  Watkinson, 

so 

50 

Samuel  P.  Williams, 

30 

so 

Edward  Danforth, 

50 

so 

Thomas  Huntington, 

30 

60 

William  Lawrence, 

SO 

50 

Jesse  Deane, 

so 

IS 

John  Trumbull,  Esq., 

60 

50 

Josiah  Beckwith, 

SO 

50 

Pardon  Brown, 

SO 

75 

Isaac  D.  Bull, 

30 

SO 

Stephen  Dodge, 

20 

50 

James  Lothrop, 

SO 

6S 

Rebecca  &  James  Burr, 

so 

30 

Rhoda  Jones, 

20 

50 

Esther  Talcott, 

10 

80 

Joseph  Steward, 

20 

100 

Lucia  Pratt, 

100 

SO 

Aaron  Colton, 

25 

SO 

Samuel  C.  Camp, 

SO 

SO 

Anna  Goodwin, 

lO 

SO 

Joseph  Burr, 

so 

30 

Charles  Seymour, 

30 

APPENDIX    XI. 


461 


Oliver  D.  Cooke, 

Lewis  Bliss, 

Noble  Day, 

William  &  Matliew  Talcott, 

David  L.  Dodge, 

John  Chenward, 

Daniel  Wadsworth, 

Eunice  Wadsworth, 

Elizabeth  Wadsworth, 

Richard  Goodman, 

Harry  Pratt, 

Ezra  Hyde, 

Joseph  Keeny, 

Sam'l  &  Dan'l  Danforth, 

Gideon  Morley, 

Eliphalet  Terry,  jr., 

Ashbel  Spencer, 

Samuel  Goodwin, 

Julius  Jones, 

William  Goodwin, 

Nathaniel  Skinner, 

George  Wadsworth, 

John  Sheldon, 

Theodore  Spencer, 

George  J.  Patten, 


SO 
20 
20 
80 
30 
55 
100 

50 
50 
60 
20 
10 
15 
50 
17 
20 

30 
15 
10 

50 
17 
15 

ID 
10 
30 


Zechariah  Pratt, 

Normand  Knox, 

Peter  Thacher, 

John  Smith, 

David  Greenleaf, 

William  Lord, 

James  Caldwell, 

Hezekiah  Burr, 

Moses  Burr, 

Thomas  Sanford, 

Jonathan  &  James  Goodwin, 

Levi  Kelsey, 

Ezra  Corning, 

Miles  Beach, 

Daniel  Moore, 

Aaron  Cooke, 

William  Chadwick, 

Joseph  Hart, 

John  Ripley, 

WaUer  Mitchell, 

Joseph  Harriss, 

Titus  L.  Bissell, 


30 
20 

15 

30 
15 
30 
30 
20 

IS 

10 

2d,  20 

20 

15 

40 

15 

30 
20 
50 
30 

30 
20 

30 

$4709 


APPENDIX  XII. 


(SEE   PAGE   355.) 
PEWS  AND  SLIPS  SOLD  TO  MCH.  27,   1809,  AND  GROUND  PLAN  OF  HOUSE. 


PEWS    SOLD   IN    FEE   SIMPLE. 


No. 

3- 

26. 

25- 
2. 

6. 


24. 

4- 
20. 


5- 
23- 
22. 


Daniel  Wadsworth,  $1100 

John  Caldwell,  760 

Ephraim  Root,  760 

Nathaniel  Terry,  760 

Normand  Knox  ^,  $162.50 
Henry  Hudson  ^  162.50 
Daniel  Buck  ;i,  162.50 

Walter  Mitchell    ^,  162.50  650 
Dwell  Morgan    ^,  $320 
Ward  Woodbridge  |-,  320     640 
George  Goodwin,  620 

Thomas  Bull       ^,  $307.50 
Richard  Goodman  |^,  307.50  615 
Nathaniel  Patten,  605 

Jonathan  Brace,  600 

William  Mosely,  560 

Isaac  Bull, 
Isaac  D.  Bull, 

James  R.  Woodbridge,    )    550    117. 
Daniel  Porter      1,  $265 
Peter  W.  Gallaudet,  ^,  265  530 


PEWS    SOLD   FOR    THIRTY   YEARS. 
No. 
9.  Enoch  Perkins  |,  $187.80 

Oliver  D.  Cooke  ^,  187.50  $375 
ID.  James  Lath r op   f,  202 

Peter  Thacher   ^,  loi  303 

19.  William  Watson,  300 

11.  Ruth  Patten,  244 
18.  Chas.  Mather,  254 
17.  David  Wadsworth,  228 

12.  Nathaniel  Terry,  225 


SLIPS    SOLD   IN    FEE   SIMPLE. 
No. 

80.  Samuel  &  Rebecca  Burr,  $281 

82.  Timothy  Burr     ^,  $210 

Henry  Newbury  |-,  210  420 
114.  Leonard  Bacon   ^,  132.50 

Chauncy  Gleason  ^,  152.50  265 
74.  Isaac  Bliss,  237 

38.  Alfred  Bliss,  269 

86.  George  Caldwell,  253 

87.  Samuel  O.  Camp,  250 
Mason  F.  Cogswell,  253 
Aaron  Cook,  231 
Jesse  Deane,                        245 


72. 
36. 
39- 
33. 


Edward  &  Dan'l  Danforth,  240 


40 
III 


32.  Theodore  Dwight,  238 

1 19.  Jonathan  W.  Edwards,  275 
EH  Ely,  225 
Miller  Fish,  292 
Chauncy  Goodrich,  285 
Richard  Goodman,  435 

68.  John  Hall,  252 
113.  William  Hills,  253 

James  Hosmer,  270 

Andrew  Kingsbury,  292 
John  Leffingwell,     ] 

Aaron  Chapin,         )  ^ 

John  Lee,  249 

Samuel  Lawrence,  225 

William  Lawrence,  288 

116.  Jacob  Sargeant,  278 

112.  Charles  Seymour,  244 

69.  Joseph  Steward,  273 

120.  John  Trumbull,  255 
37.  Solomon  Taylor,  246 


115 

79 
85, 

121 
65 
31 


APPENDIX   XII. 


463 


SLIPS     SOLD     IN     FEE 

SIMPLE 

Mr* 

CONTINUED. 

78. 

Eliphalet  Terry, 

273 

81. 

Spencer  Whiting, 

266 

71- 

Eunice  &  Elizabeth 

Wadsworth, 

300 

34- 

Ezekiel  Williams, 

230 

73- 

David  Watkinson, 

250 

118. 

John  Wales, 

Thomas  S.  William 

s, 

Thomas  Day, 

Wm.  Watkinson, 

H.  Averill,  -^  each. 

280 

83. 

David  Wadsworth, 

$265 

67. 

u                      u 

253 

94. 

li                         n 

225 

105. 

li                          u 

225 

106. 

u                            (( 

225 

I  193 

88. 

Daniel  Wadsworth 

300 

no. 

P.  W.  Gallaudet, 

258 

60. 

The  Committee* 

225 

61. 

a                 a 

225 

62. 

H                       (( 

225 

44 

u                u 

225 

SLIPS    SOLD   FOR   THIRTY    YEARS. 


No. 
91. 

66. 
93- 

77- 

108. 

92. 


63. 
89. 

43- 
53- 
42, 


109. 


Titus  L.  Bissell, 
Thomas  Chester, 
Aaron  Colton     ^,  $ 
Josiah  Beckwith  ^. 
Elisha  Colt, 
Eliakim  Hitchcock, 
Rena  Hopkins,  $50 
Miles  Beach,       80 
Normand  Knox, 
Anson  G.  Phelps, 
James  Pratt, 
George  J.  Patten, 
Barzillai  Russell, 
Samuel  Smith, 
Richard  Williams,  5 
Jacob  Sargeant, 


58 


SLIPS  SOLD  FOR  THIRTY  YEARS 

CONTINUED. 
No. 
90.  Normand  Smith  ^,  $77- 5° 

John  Smith  i,  77.50  IS5 

59    Daniel  Wadsworth, 
107.  Chas.  B.  King, 
46.  Benjamin  Conkling, 
45.  Richard  L.  Jones, 

55.  Joseph  Lynde, 
103.  David  Porter, 

56.  Daniel  Wadsworth, 

57.  " 
70. 

35-    " 


$141 
150 

116 
125 

138 

130 
100 
168 
108 
100 


each,  100 
145 


112 

120 
102 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 


GALLERY   PEWS   IN   FEE   SIMPLE. 
No. 

135.  Nathan  Strong,  $150 

130.  Daniel  Wadsworth,  150 

132.  Charles  Mather,  150 
129.  David  Wadsworth,  150 

133.  Bought  by  Committee,  150 

134.  Isaac  Bliss,  160 

137.  Bought  by  Committee,  150 

138.  "                     "  150 

141.  "                     "  150 

GALLERY   PEWS    SOLD  FOR  THIRTY 

YEARS. 
No. 

143.  James  Lathrop  i,  $37.50 
Fredk.  Lathrop  ^,    37.50  $75 

144.  James  H.  Wells,  91 

145.  David  Watkinson,  77 

146.  David  Porter  :f,.$2i 
Ward  Woodbridge  {,  21 
Normand  Knox  |,  21 
Spencer  Whiting     |,    21  84 

147.  James  B.  Hosmer,  85 
136.  Lemuel  Swift  &  Co.,  loi 
140.  Daniel  Wadsworth,  75 

142.  Enoch  Perkins  J,  $38.50 

P.  W.  Gallaudet  J,  38.50  77 


464 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


SUMMARY. 

13  Pews  in  Fee  Simple, 

$8750 

7  Pews  for  30  years, 

1929 

47  Slips  in  fee  simple. 

12,319 

23  Slips  for  30  years, 

2710 

In  the  Gallery. 

9  Pews  in  fee  simple, 

1350 

8  Pews  for  30  years. 

665 

$27,723 

REMAINING    UNSOLD. 

No.  13,  14,  15,  16, 

21,  27,  Six  Pews  below. 

No.  I,  28,  29,  30, 

41,47,48,49, 
50,  51,  52,  54, 
58,  64,  7S,  7(>, 
95,  96, 97,  98, 
99,   100,    lOI, 

102,  104,  122,  Twenty-six  slips. 
In  the  Gallery,  17  Pews. 

The  following  named  persons  at 
the  same  date    rented    sittings    in 
the  New  Meeting  House. 
Charles  and  Asa  Butler. 
Joseph  Burr,  Jr. 


James  Barritt. 
Ezra  Corning. 
Elisha  P.  Corning. 
George  Church. 
Roswell  Doolittle. 
Stedman  Adams. 
Luther  Freeman. 
John  M.  Gannet. 
Samuel  Goodwin. 
Widow  Anna  Goodwin. 
Widow  Daniel  Goodwin. 
David  Goodwin. 
Steward  Gladden. 
Daniel  Hopkins. 
Joseph  Keeney. 
Romanta  Norton. 
Fredk.  Oaks. 
Joseph  Rogers. 
John  Ripley. 

Stedman. 

John  Wadsworth. 

Henry  Wadsworth. 

Thomas  Wells. 

John  Wing. 

Widow  James  Wells. 

Mrs.  David  Bull. 

Widow  Sarah  Wickham. 


In  1819,  Aug.  16,  these  slips  and  pews  which  had  been  turned  over 
by  the  Building  Committee  to  the  Society  had  been  sold  at  prices 
affixed : 


Slip  No.    60  in 

fee 

to  Benj.  Bolles, 

$160 

35,  for  30 

years  from  1808, 

to  Jabez  Ripley, 

42 

46, 

" 

it            (( 

A.  M.  Collins, 

80 

103, 

(( 

((            i( 

W.  D.  Smith, 

54 

"       •    56, 

(( 

u              .  n 

Benj.  Phelps, 

40 

57, 

(( 

U                       (( 

R.  Langdon, 

44 

Pew  No.   12, 

ii 

H.  L.  Ellsworth, 

86 

Pew  in  Gallery, 

No 

130  in  fee,  Daniel  Buck, 

51 

((                   K 

a 

137     "        Charles  Hosmer, 

129 

(( 

(( 

138     "         H.  L 

Ellsworth, 

130 

GROUND    PLAN    OF    HOUSE. 


59 


466 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD. 


GALLERY. 


lO 


II 


12 


13 


14 


7^W      ] 

.^ 

7S 

122 

74 

121 

73 

120 

72 

1   119 

71 

1   118 

7olf 

117 

69 

1   116 

68 

1   "5 

67 

1   114 

66 

1   113 

65 

1   112 

64© 

III 

63 

no 

62 

109 

61 

i   108 

60 

107 

59 

106 

sm 

105 

57 

104 

56 

1   103 

55 

102 

54 

lOI 

53 

1   100 

APPENDIX  XII. 


467 


/  /\        28 


27 


f   ^29 

77 

1    30 

7S 

1    31 

79 

1    32 

80 

1    33 

81 

1    34 

82 

1    ^35 

83 

1    36 

84 

1    37 

85 

1    38 

86 

1    39 

87 

40 

88 

i|4i 

89 

1    42 

90 

1    43 

91 

1    44 

92 

1    45 

93 

1    46 

94 

fi47 

95 

'    48 

96 

1    49 

97 
98 

1    50 

1    51 

99 

1    52 

26 


25 


24 


23 


22 


21 


20 


19 


17 


16 


15 


J.B.H 
147 

N.K. 
146 
&C0. 


D.W. 
145 

H.W. 
144 


J.L. 

143 

F.  L. 


W.G. 
142 
E.  P. 

141 

D.W. 
140 


148 


149 


150 


151 

152 


153 


156 


GALLERY. 


APPENDIX     XIII. 

(see  page  375.) 

ARTICLES  OF  FAITH. 
Article  I. 

We,  as  a  Church,  believe  that  Jehovah,  the  true  and  eternal  God, 
who  made,  supports  and  governs  the  world,  is  perfect  in  natural  and 
moral  excellence,  and  that  He  exists  in  three  Persons,  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  possess  the  same  nature,  and  are 
equal  in  every  divine  perfection. 

Article  II. 

We  believe  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  were 
written  by  holy  men,  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  are 
the  infallible  rule  of  doctrine  and  duty. 

Article  III. 

We  believe  that  God  has  made  all  things  for  Himself ;  that  known 
unto  Him  are  all  His  works  from  the  beginning,  and  that  He  governs 
all  things  according  to  the  council  of  His  own  will. 

Article  IV. 

We  believe  that  men  are  immortal  and  accountable  ;  that  the  law  of 
God  is  perfect  and  his  government  just  and  good  ;  and  that  all  rational 
beings  are  bound  to  approve,  love,  and  obey  them. 

Article  V. 

We  believe  that  in  consequence  of  the  apostacy  of  Adam,  sin  and 
misery  have  been  introduced  into  the  world,  and  that  all  men,  unless 
renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  are  destitute  of  holiness,  and  under  the 
curse  of  the  divine  law. 

Article  VI, 

We  believe  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  assumed  the  nature  of  man, 
and  by  His  mediation  and  death  on  the  cross,  made  atonement  for  the 
sins  of  the  world. 


APPENDIX   XIII. 


469 


Article  VII. 

We  believe  that  men  may  accept  of  the  offers  of  salvation  freely 
made  to  them  in  the  Gospel ;  but  that  no  one  will  do  this,  except  he 
be  drawn  by  the  Father. 

Article  VIII. 

We  believe  that  those  who  are  finally  saved,  will  owe  their  salvation 
to  the  mere  sovereign  mercy  of  God.  in  Christ  Jesus,  through  repent- 
ance and  faith  in  Him,  and  not  to  any  works  of  righteousness  which 
they  have  done. 

Article  IX. 

We  believe  that  a  conscientious  discharge  of  the  various  duties 
which  we  owe  to  God,  to  our  fellow-men,  and  to  ourselves,  as  enjoined 
in  the  Gospel,  is  not  only  constantly  binding  on  every  Christian,  but 
affords  to  himself  and  to  the  world,  the  only  decisive  evidence  of  his 
interest  in  the  Redeemer. 

Article  X. 

We  believe  that  any  number  of  Christians  duly  organized,  constitute ■ 
a  church  of  Christ,  the  special  ordinances  of  which  are  Jiaptism  and 
the  Lord's  Supper. 

Article  XL 

We  believe  that  all  mankind  must  hereafter  appear  before  the  judg- 
ment-seat of  Christ,  to  receive  a  just  and  final  retribution,  according  to 
the  deeds  done  in  the  body  ;  and  that  the  wicked  will  be  sent  away  into 
everlasting  punishment,  and  the  righteous  received  into  life  eternal. 

Such  are  the  doctrines  believed  by  this  church.  Do  you  cordially 
assent  to  them  1 

COVENANT. 

In  the  presence  of  God  and  this  assembly  you  do  now  seriously, 
deliberately,  and  for  ever  give  up  yourselves,  in  faith  and  love  and  holy 
obedience,  to  God  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  accepting 
the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be  your  God  ;  Jesus  Christ  to  be  your  prophet, 
priest,  and  king;  and  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  your  Sanctifier,  Comforter, 
and  Guide.  Although  humbly  acknowledging  your  weakness  and  guilt, 
and  your  liability  to  error  and  sin,  still  you  do  sincerely  desire,  and  by 
the  aids  of  Divine  grace  do  promise,  to  receive  in  love  the  pure  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel,  to  walk  in  the  statutes  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord, 
blameless,  and  to  do  honor  to  your  high  and  holy  vocation  by  a  life  of 
piety  towards  God  and  benevolence  towards  your  fellow-men. 

You  do  also  cordially  join  yourselves  to  this  Church  of  Christ,  engag- 
ing to  submit  to  its  discipline,  so  far  as  conformable  to  the  rules  of  the 


470 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH    IN    HARTFORD. 


Gospel,  and  solemnly  covenanting,  as  much  as  in  you  lies,  to  promote 
its  peace,  edification,  and  purity,  and  to  walk  with  its  members  in  Chris- 
tian love,  faithfulness,  circumspection,  sobriety,  and  meekness.  This  you 
promise  and  engage  to  do,  with  humble  trust  in  the  grace  of  God,  and 
with  an  affecting  belief  that  your  vows  are  recorded  on  high,  and  will 
be  reviewed  in  the  day  of  final  judgment.  • 

Thus  you  promise  and  engage. 

We  then,  as  a  church,  do  cordially  receive  you  into  our  fellowship 
and  communion,  and  give  thanks  to  God  who,  we  trust,  has  inclined 
your  heart  to  fear  his  name.  We  promise  to  treat  you  with  Christian 
affection ;  to  watch  over  you  with  tenderness ;  and  to  offer  our  prayers 
to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  that  you  may  be  enabled  to  fulfill  the 
solemn  Covenant  which  you  have  now  made.  The  Lord  bless  you  and 
keep  you.  The  Lord  make  His  face  to  shine  upon  you,  and  be  gracious 
unto  you.  The  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance  upon  you,  and  give  you 
peace. 

And  now  unto  Him  who  is  able  to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  pre- 
sent you  faultless  before  the  throne  of  His  glory  with  exceeding  joy, — 
to  the  only  wise  God  our  Saviour,  be  glory  and  majesty,  dominion  and 
power,  both  now  and  forever. 

Amen. 


Article  IV  of  the  above  Confession  of  Faith  appears  in  the  Manuals 
of  1822,  1835,  1843,  and  1858;  but  disappears  from  the  Manual  of  1867 
and  all  afterward. 

The  Covcttant  which  appeared  in  the  Manual  of  1858  had  large  inter- 
polations from  a  manuscript  found  among  Dr.  Hawes'  effects,  endorsed 
"  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin's  form  of  admission  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Newark,  New  Jersey."  These  -interpolations  had  been  apparently  to 
some  extent  sanctioned  by  the  Church  in  1857  ;  but  on  January  17,  i860, 
the  Church  voted  to  recur  to  older  form.  The  phraseology  settled  upon, 
however,  as  it  appears  in  the  Manuals  of  1867  and  afterward,  is  not 
exactly  the  language  of  1822. 


APPENDIX     XIV. 


(see  page  396.) 

Subscribers  to  the  altering  and  improving  of  the  Meeting-house  in 
the  repairs  of  1852. 


Calvin  Day,  $1,000 

Thos.  S.  Williams,  500 

Thomas  Smith,  500 

John  Warburton,  500 

Harvey  Seymour,  500 

Julius  Catlin,  500 

Roland  Mather,  500 

Charles  Seyraour,  400 

Joseph  Trumbull,  250 

Edmund  G.  Howe,  250 

Hungerford  &  Cone,  250 

Samuel  S.  Ward,  250 

Henry  A.  Perkins,  250 

James  M.  Bunce.  250 

David  Watkinson.  250 

S.  P.  Kendall  &  Co.,  200 

Erastus  Smith,  200 

W.  W.  House,  200 

Francis  Parsons,  200 

Noah  Wheaton,  200 

Roswell  Brown,  200 

Joseph  Church,  200 

Goodwins  &  Sheldon,  200 

Frederick  Tyler,  200 

Calvin  Spencer,  150 

Alfred  Gill,  150 

John  G.  Mix,  no 

Robert  Buell,  100 

Selah  Treat,  100 

B.  E.  Hooker,  100 

Wm.  H.  Allyn,  100 


John  L.  Boswell, 
B.  &  W.  Hudson, 
B.  W.  Greene, 
H.  Fitch, 
E.  Fessenden, 
John  Beach, 
Alfred  Smith, 
Tertius  Wadsworth, 
Wm.  W.  Ellsworth, 
R.  C.  Smith,     . 
H.  L.  Pratt, 
Ralph  Gillett, 
French  &  Wales, 
S.  Bourne, 
Gurdon  Fox, 
Samuel  Hamilton, 
L.  Wilcox, 
Elizur  Goodrich, 
Thomas  Hender, 
Wm.  L.  Wright, 
Nathan  Colton, 
H.  L.  Porter, 
George  W.  Corning, 
George  Rust, 
Chauncey  Ives, 
James  B.  Hosmer, 
G.  T.  &  H.  J.  Wright, 
Henry  Benton, 
Sam'l  Coit, 
Wm.  B.  Ely, 
James  H.  Holcomb, 


$100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

75 
50 
50 
50 
50 
SO 
SO 
30 

2S 

25 

■        25 
2S 


472 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN    HARTFORD. 


J.  S.  Huntington, 

$2S 

Walter  Harris, 

$20 

T.  Willis  Pratt, 

25 

James  Tisdale, 

IS 

Collins  Stone, 

25 

George  M.  Way, 

IS 

Thacher,  Goodrich  &  Stillman, 

50 

W,  E.  Sugden, 

ID 

Rockwood  &  Prior, 

25 

C.  W.  Elton, 

ID 

C.  A.  Goodrich, 

25 

C.  C.  Strong, 

ID 

lVirlinlp<;  Harris 

25 
20 

J.  Gorton  Smith, 

Total, 

Sio,45S 

APPENDIX  XV. 


(see  page  408.) 


SUBSCRIPTIONS    FOR   EXTINGUISHING   THE    DEBT    OF    THE   SOCIETY 

IN    1879. 

Calvin  Day, 
F.  B.  Cooley, 
S.  S.  Ward, 
Mrs.  H.  A.  Perkins, 
Mrs.  Emily  Jewell, 
Mrs.  Charles  A.  Jewell, 
Charles  A.  Jewell, 
Mrs.  L.  Church, 
George  P.  Bissell, 
Mrs.  E.  G.  Howe 
Daniel  R.  Howe, 
Mrs.  Lucius  Barbour, 
Hattie  D.  Barbour, 
Lucius  A.  Barbour, 
Robert  E.  Day, 
Mrs.  George  Roberts,  -\ 
Henry  Roberts,  >- 

George  Roberts,  ) 

J.  C.  Parsons, 
M.  W.  Graves,  Admt., 
E.  K.  Hunt,  Admt., 
W.  R.  Cone, 
Robert  Buell, 
B.  E.  Hooker, 
J.  Coolidge  Hills, 
Mrs.  George  C.  Perkins 
Leonard  H.  Bacon, 
H.  Blanchard, 
John  C.  Day, 
60 


52,000 

George  W.  Corning, 

$250 

2,000 

Edson  Fessenden, 

250 

2,000 

John  S.  Welles, 

200 

2,000 

Charles  Seymour, 

250 

Harvey  Seymour, 

250 

1,000 

Samuel  Hamilton, 

250 

Lewis  E.  Stanton, 

200 

1,000 

H.  P.  Stearns, 

200 

1,000 

Rowland  Swift, 

200 

John  Allen, 

200 

1,000 

Ralph  Gillett, 

200 

M.  Storrs, 

ISO 

1,000 

George  Leon  Walker,         -\ 
returned  by  vote  of  the       ;- 

125 

750 

Society  of  Jan.  16,  1880,    ) 

A.  P.  Pitkin, 

100 

800 

Mrs.  Edward  H.  Perkins, 

100 

William  W.  House, 

100 

600 

Charles  T.  Wells, 

100 

500 

John  Cooke, 

100 

500 

William  M.  Hudson, 

100 

500 

William  Thompson, 

20 

500 

M.  B.  Riddle, 

25 

500 

H.  S.  Fuller,      • 

25 

500 

J.  H.  Whitmore, 

25 

300 

Mary  Williams, 

25 

300 

Hawley  Kellogg, 

25 

250 

Mrs.  Roswell  Brown, 

25 

250 

Henry  E.  Taintor, 

25 

474 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


William  E.  Sugden,  $25 

A.  C.  Hotchkiss,  25 

J.  L.  Blanchard,  25 

N.  H.  Morgan,  25 

James  U.  Taintor,  25 

G.  S.  Whiting,  25 

A.  B.  Gillett,  25 

S.  M.  Hotchkiss,  20 

L.  M.  Crittenden,  10 

Mary  and  Sarah  Bigelow,  10 

J.  W.  Starkweather,  10 

Charles  T.  Welles,  10 

C.  W.  Eldridge,  10 
Of  the  young  men  : 


H.  B.  Langdon, 

E.  F.  Harrison, 

A.  Catlin, 

C.  T.  Millard, 

T.  J.  Gill, 

S.  P.  Davis, 

W.  M.  Storrs, 

R.  A.  Griffing, 

A.  H.  Pitkin, 

A.  B.  Abernethy, 

A.  Brown,  jr., 

W.  T.  Price, 

Benjamiij  G.  Hopkins, 

J.  D.  Parker, 


$117 


Total, 


$23,007 


APPENDIX  XVI. 

(see  page  409.) 

the  organ. 

The  organ,  description  of  which  is  given  below,  was  built  in  1883  by 
Hilborne  L.  Roosevelt,  of  New  York.  It  is  a  particularly  perfect  and 
interesting  instrument,  not  only  on  account  of  its  size,  but  from  the 
fact  that  it  contains  all  of  the  most  modern  and  improved  devices  which 
have  characterized  the  advancement  made  of  late  years  in  organ  build- 
ing, some  of  which  have  never  been  employed  before,  and  are  original 
with  the  builder.  The  Choir  Organ,  together  with  the  Reeds  and  Mix- 
tures of  the  Great  Organ,  are  enclosed  in  a  Swell-box  distinct  and  sep- 
arate from  that  containing  the  Swell  Organ  pipes,  thus  affording  most 
extraordinary  crescendo  and  diminuendo  effects. 

The  Windchests  are  those  known  as  "  Roosevelt  chests  "  and  may 
be  briefly  described  as  being  tubular  pneumatic  in  principle,  and  afford- 
ing a  separate  pallet  for  every  pipe.  They  admit  of  as  perfect  and 
rapid  "  repetition  "  as  that  of  the  most  perfect  piano  forte,  and  are  pro- 
ductive of  an  exceedingly  light  and  agreeable  touch,  no  matter  how 
large  the  organ,  ard  at  the  same  time  are  subject  to  none  of  the  derange- 
ments common  to  most  organs. 

The  Blowing  Apparatus,  consisting  of  large  independent  feeders 
operated  by  a  Hydraulic  Engine,  is  placed  in  a  room  in  the  cellar  which 
draws  its  supply  of  air  from  the  Organ  Gallery. 

The  Adjustable  Combination  Action  is  the  most  novel  feature  of  the 
organ,  and  is  original  with  the-  builder.  It  is  controlled  by  thumb 
pistons  placed  beneath  the  keyboards;  on  any  of  which  can  be  set  or 
arranged  such  combinations  of  stops  as  the  organist  may  desire ;  he 
being  able  to  change  them  as  completely  and  as  often  as  may  be 
required. 

The  Drawstop  Action  is  exactly  similar  to  that  used  for  connecting 
the  keys  to  the  pallets  of  the  windchest. 

The  32'  Double  Open  Diapason,  so  rarely  met  with,  and  so  seldom 
productive  of  satisfactory  results,  has  here  proved  successful,  and  adds 
to  the  organ  that  majesty  and  grandeur  which  no  substitute  can  do. 

The  Case  of  the  old  instrument  has  been  retained,  with  but  slight 
alterations  and  repairs. 


476 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


The  Keyboards  are  overhanging,  and  the  Drawstops  oblique  faced. 

The  Action  or  Mechanism,  together  with  the  workmanship  through- 
out the  organ  has  been  carried  to  a  higher  degree  of  perfection  than 
usual,  and  the  Voicing  displays  great  delicacy  and  characteristic  quality 
of  tone,  as  well  as  immense  power  of  "full  organ  "  without  harshness, 
and  a  perfect  blending  of  the  whole  into  an  agreeable  and  massive  tone, 
not  lacking  in  brilliancy. 


SPECIFICATION. 

Three  Manuals,  Compass  CC  to  a^,  58  Notes;  and  Pedals,  Com- 
pass CCC  to  F,  30  Notes. 


great 

ORGAN. 

I. 

Double  Open  Diapason 

,        16'. 

7.   Flute  Harmonique, 

4' 

2. 

Open  Diapason, 

8' 

8.  Octave  Quint, 

21' 

3. 

Gemshorn, 

8' 

9.  Super  Octave, 

2' 

4- 

Viola  di  Gamba, 

8' 

10.  Mixture, 

4  Ranks 

5- 

Doppel  Flote, 

8' 

II.  Trumpet, 

8' 

6. 

Octave, 

4' 

(Stops  8  to  11  are  included  in  the  Choir  swell-box.) 

swell  organ. 

12. 

Bourdon, 

16' 

20.  Hohl  Flote, 

4' 

13- 

Open  Diapason, 

8' 

21.  Flageolet, 

2' 

14. 

Spitz  Flote, 

8' 

22.   Cornet,           3,  4,  and 

5  Ranks 

15- 

Salicional, 

8' 

23.  Contra  Fagotto, 

16' 

16. 

Dolce, 

8' 

24.  Cornopean, 

8' 

17- 

Vox  Celestis, 

8' 

25.  Oboe, 

8' 

18. 

Stopped  Diapason, 

8' 

26.  Vox  Humana, 

.      8' 

19- 

Octave, 

4' 

27.  Clarion, 

4' 

CHOIR    ORGAN. 

(Enclosed  in  a  separate  Swell-box.) 

28. 

Contra  Gamba, 

16' 

33.  Fugara, 

4' 

29. 

Open  Diapason, 

8' 

34.  Flute  d'  Amour, 

4' 

30. 

^oline, 

8' 

35.  Piccolo  Harmonique, 

2' 

31- 

Concert  Flute, 

8' 

36.  Clarinet, 

8' 

32. 

Quintadena, 

8' 

PEDAL    ORGAN. 

37- 

Double  Open  Diapason 

32' 

41.  Quint, 

lof 

38. 

Open  Diapason, 

16' 

42.  Violoncello, 

8' 

39. 

Dulciana, 

16' 

43.  Flute, 

8' 

40. 

Bourdon, 

16' 

44.  Trombone, 

16' 

APPENDIX   XVI. 


477 


COUPLERS. 


45.  Swell  to  Great. 

46.  Choir  to  Great. 

47.  Swell  to  Choir. 

48.  Swell  Octaves  on  Itself. 


49.  Swell  to  Pedal. 

50.  Great  to  Pedal. 

51.  Choir  to  Pedal. 


MECHANICAL   ACCESSORIES. 


52.  Swell  Tremulant. 

53.  Choir  Tremulant. 


54.  Eclipse  Wind  Indicator. 


ROOSEVELT   ADJUSTABLE   COMBINATION   PISTONS. 

55-58.     Four  under  Great  keys  affecting   Great  and  Pedal  stops  Nos. 

45,  46,  and  50. 
59-63.     Five  under  Swell  keys  affecting  Swell  stops  Nos.  48,  49,  and  52. 
64-66.     Three  under  Choir  keys  affecting  Choir  stops  and  Nos.  47,  51, 

and  53. 

PEDAL   MOVEMENTS. 

67-68.     Two     Roosevelt    Adjustable    Combination    Pedals    affecting 
Pedal  stops. 


69.  Great     to     Pedal     Reversible 

Coupler. 

70.  Pneumatic    Starter   for  Water 

Engines. 


71.  Balanced  Swell  Pedal. 

72.  Balanced  Choir  Pedal. 


SUMMARY. 


Great  Organ, 
Swell  Organ, 
Choir  Organ, 
Pedal  Organ, 


1 1  Stops, 
16       " 


812  Pipes. 
1,100       " 
522       " 
240       " 


Total  Speaking  Stops,  44 

Couplers,  7 

Mechanical  Accessories,  3 

Adjustable  Combination  Pistons,  12 

Pedal  Movements,  6 


Total, 


72 


Total  Pipes, 


2,674 


APPENDIX  XVII. 

(see  page  410.) 
PROGRAMME  OF  CELEBRATION  EXERCISES. 

1633  1883 

FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST 

IN    HARTFORD. 


Two    Hundred  and  Fiftieth 

ANNIVERSARY, 

Thurfday  and  Friday,  Oct.  nth  and  12th. 

1883. 


"Then  Samuel  took  a  ftone,  and  fet  it  up  between  Mizpeh  and  Shen,  and 
called  the  name  of  it  Ebenezer,  faying,  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us." — 
Text  of  Tko7?ias  Hooker's  Thankjgiving  Sermon,  Preached  Oct.  4,  163S. 


APPENDIX   XVIL 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES. 


479 


Thurfday   Morning. 

I.  ORGAN  PRELUDE.  Handel. 

II.  DOXOLOGY, 

III.  READING  OF  SCRIPTURE.     Pfalm  lxxxix  :  1-18. 

IV.  PRAYER. 

V.     ANTHEM.     One  Hundredth  Pfalm.  Tours. 

VI.     ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME. 

William  R.  Cone. 
VII.     PSALM  cxxxvi.  Tate  and  Brady. 

Tune,  Lenox. 

To  God  the  mighty  Lord, 

Your  joyful  Thanks  repeat : 
To  Him  due  Praife  afford, 
As  good  as  He  is  great. 
For  God  does  prove 
Our  conilant  Friend, 
His  boundlefs  Love 
Shall  never  end. 

2.  Thro'  Defarts  vail  and  wild 

He  led  the  chofen  Seed  ; 
And  famous  Princes  foil'd. 
And  made  great  Monarchs  bleed. 
For  God,  &c. 

3.  Sihon,  whoie  potent  Hand 

Great  Ammon's  Sceptre  fway'd  ; 
And  Og,  whofe  ftern  Command 
Rich  Balhan's  Land  obey'd. 
For  God,  &c. 

4.  And  of  His  wond'rous  Grace 

Their  Lands,  whom  He  delfroy'd, 
He  gave  to  Ifr'el's  Race, 
To  be  by  them  enjoy'd. 
For  God,  &c. 


48o  THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 

5.     He  does  the  Food  fupply, 

On  which  all  Creatures  live  : 
To  God  who  reigns  on  high 
Eternal  Praifes  give. 
For  God  will  prove 
Our  conftant  Friend, 
His  boundlels  love 
Shall  never  end. 

VIII.     EARLY  TOPOGRAPHY  OF  HARTFORD. 

John  C.  Parsons. 
Illuftrated  by  a  copy  of  Porter's  Map  of  Hartford  in   1640,  prepared  by 
Solon  P.  Davis. 

IX.     HYMN  1060.     "  O  God,  beneath  Thy  guiding  hand." 
Tune,  Bond. 


Thurfday  Afternoon. 

I.     PSALM  Lxxviii.  Tate  and  Brady. 

Tune,  Archdale. 

Hear,  O  my  People,  to  my  Law, 

devout  Attention  lend ; 
Let  the  Inll:ru6lion  of  my  Mouth 

deep  in  your  Hearts  defcend. 
My  Tongue,  by  Infpiration  taught, 

fliall  Parables  unfold. 
Dark  Oracles,  but  underllood, 

and  owned  for  Truths  of  old ; 

2.  Which  we  from  facred  Regiflers 

of  antient  Times  have  known. 
And  our  Forefathers  pious  Care 

to  us  has  handed  down. 
We  will  not  hide  them  from  our  Sons  ; 

our  Offfpring  fliall  be  taught 
The  Praifes  of  the  Lord,  whofe  Strength 

has  Works  of  Wonder  wrought. 

3.  That  Generations  yet  to  come 

fhould  to  their  unborn  Heirs 
Religioufly  tranfmit  the  fame, 

and  they  again  to  theirs. 
To  teach  them  that  in  God  alone 

their  hope  fecurely  ftands. 
That  they  fliould  ne'er  His  Works  forget, 

but  keep  His  juft  Commands. 


APPENDIX   XVII.  481 

II.  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

Rev.  George  Leon  Walker,  D.  D. 

III.  HYMN  820.     " Let  faints  below  in  concert  sing." 

Tune,  St.  Anns. 

IV.  CLOSING  VOLUNTARY.  Bach, 

Thurfday  Evening. 

I.  ORGAN  VOLUNTARY.                                              Mendelssohn. 

II.  GLORIA  IN  EXCELSIS.                                                      Pease. 

III.  ADDRESSES  BY  FORMER  PASTORS. 

IV.  MUSIC.     "  The  Lord  is  mindful  of  His  Own."         Mendelssohn. 
V.  ADDRESSES  BY  INVITED  GUESTS. 

VI.     HYMN  1014.     "  Chrift  is  coming  !     Let  creation  " —    Verdussen. 

Friday  Morning. 

I.     ORGAN  PRELUDE  AND  CHORUS.  St.  Saens. 

II.     PRAYER. 

III.  THE  MEETING-HOUSES  OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH. 

Rowland  Swift. 

IV.  REMINISCENCES. 

Rev.  Aaron  L.  Chapin,  D,  D. 
V.     HYMN  757.     "  O  where  are  kings  and  empires  now." 

Friday  Noon. 

SOCIAL  REUNION  AND  COLLATION  IN  THE 
CHURCH  PARLORS. 

Friday  Afternoon. 

I.     HYMN  522.     "  Call  Jehovah  thy  falvation."  Raff. 

11,     RELATION    OF    THE    CHURCH  TO  THE    CIVIL  GOV- 
ERNMENT. 

Pinckney  W.  Ellsworth. 

III.  SOCIAL  AND  DOMESTIC  LIFE  IN  EARLY  TIMES. 

Mrs.  Lucius  Curtis. 

IV.  HYMN  824.     "  Bleft  be  the  tie  that  binds." 

Tune,  Dennis. 


61 


INDEX. 


Abernethy,  A.  B.,  474. 

Adams,  A.  C,  405. 

Adams,  Jeremy,  58«,  420. 

Adams,  Stedman,  464. 

Adams,  William,  234. 

Agawam,  Settlement,  2. 

Ainsworth's  Version,  225. 

Allen,  John,  414-5,  473- 

Allin,  John,  I72«,  ig2n. 

Allyn,  John,  179;?,  2i5«,  217,  231,  419, 

447- 

Allyn,  Matthew,  58;/,  I79«,  419,  447. 
Excommunication,  109. 

Allyn,  William  H.,  471. 

Alvord,  Benedict,  236;/. 

Ames,  William,  associated  with  Hook- 
er, 43-4. 

Amsterdam,  Hooker's  residence,  42. 

Anderson,  James,  376^. 

Anderson,  Robert,  415. 

Anderson,  Rufus,  382. 

Andrews,  Francis,  420. 

Andrews,  Solomon,  251. 

Andrews,  Samuel,  Yale  College,  256-7. 

Andrews,  William,  419. 

Andros,  Sir  Edmund,  244. 

Anniversary  (250th)  programme,  478. 

Appleton,  Thomas,  393. 

Arnold,  John,  I57«,  420. 

Articles  of  Faith,  text  adopted  1822, 
468. 

Ashe,  Simeon,  34. 

Aspen,  Blackerby's  School,  49. 

Assembly,  Colonial,  see  Court. 

Associations  formed,  268. 


Association,  General,  268-9,  3^7  > 
Whitefield,  307 ;  Episcopacy, 
324 ;  Presbyterian  Assembly, 
358  ;  Conn.  Missionary  Society, 

.3SO- 

Association,  Hartford  North,  226«, 
313,  335;  formed,  268 ;  White- 
fieldian  movement,  298-9,  308, 
456 ;  Missionary  Society,  349 ; 
Methodism,  358  ;  Presbyterian- 
ism,  358-9. 

Association,    New    Haven   East,    312, 

339- 
Asylum  Hill  Church,  formation,  38 1. 
Averill,  Eliphalet,  394«. 
Averill,  H.,  463. 

B. 

Bacon,  Andrew,  I57«,  i6i«,  419. 

Bacon,  Leonard,  D.D.,  307,  403,  405, 
408  «. 

Bacon,  Leonard,  462. 

Bacon,  Leonard  H.,  473. 

Baptism,  Cotton's  view,  52  ;  early  N.  E. 
theory,  186-90;  Pitkin's  petition, 
196;  Synods,  192-3,  200-2;  ac- 
tion of  Court,  192,  197,  200, 
202-3 ;  First  Church  divided, 
205  ;  parties,  208-9. 

Barbour,  Hattie  D.,  473. 

Barbour,  Lucius,  414-5. 

Barbour,  Mrs.  Lucius,  473. 

Barbour,  Lucius  A.,  473. 

Barbour,  W.  M.,  Rev.,  4o8«. 

Barding,  Nathaniel,  420. 

Barnard,  Francis,  I49«. 


484 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


Barnard,  John,  I57«,  22 1«. 

Barnes,  Mary,  witchcraft,  ijgn. 

Barnes,  Thomas,  420. 

Barnstable  Church  and  Isaac  Foster, 

214. 
Barritt,  Jam^s,  464. 
Barrowe,  Henry,  9. 
Bartholomew,  Andrew,  298;;,  457. 
Bartlett,  Robert,  420. 
Bay  Psalm  Book,  225. 
Bayle,  Thoipas,  24. 
Baysey,  John,  420. 
Beach,  John,  414,  415,  471. 
Beach,  Miles,  461,  463. 
Beadle,  Elias  R.,  anecdote  of  Hawes, 

389- 
Beale,  Thomas,  421. 
Beauchamp,  John,  289W. 
Beckwith,  George,  300. 
Beckwith,  Josiah,  37o«,  374«,  460, 463  ; 

conference  house,  357;  deacon, 

414. 
Beecher,  Lyman,  376. 
Bell,  in  First  Church,  222;  recast,  287, 

present  396. 
Bellamy,  Joseph,  anecdote  of  Strong, 

361. 
*     Belcher  (Governor),  294. 
Benjamin,  John,  58«. 
Benton,  Andrew,  179^,  200. 
Benton.  Henry,  471. 
Bernard,  John,  419. 
Betts  (Widow),  42 r. 
Bible,  given  by  Reuben  Smith,  354. 
Bidden,  John,  420. 
Bigelow,  Benjamin,  460. 
Bigelow,  Mary,  474. 
Bigelow,  Richard,  394«. 
Bigelow,  Sarah,  474. 
Birchwood,  Thomas,  419. 
Bishops,   attitude  toward   Puritanism, 

4,8. 
Bissell,  George  P.,  388,  473. 
Bissell,  Hezekiah,  298;^,  315,  337. 
Bissell,  Titus  L.,  461,  463. 
Blackerby,  Richard,  49. 
Blakeman,  Adam,  I98«. 
Blanchard,  Homer,  414,  473. 
Blanchard,  J.  L.,  474. 


Blinman,  Richard,  193. 

Bliss,  Alfred,  462. 

Bliss,  Isaac,  460,  462-3. 

Bliss,  Lewis,  461. 

Bliss,  Thomas,  420. 

Bliss,  Thomas,  Jr.,  420. 

Blumfield,  William,  420. 

Boreman,  Samuel,  179^. 

BoUes,  Benjamin,  464. 

Boston,  First  Church  formed,  17;  cove- 
nant, 58 ;  Hutchinsonian  dis- 
turbances, 98. 

Boswell,  John  L.,  471. 

Bourne,  S.,  471. 

Boys  in  early  N.  E.  congregations, 
231-2. 

Brace,  Jonathan,  460,  462. 

Brackenbury,  William,  212. 

Bradford,  Jeremiah,  286;;. 

Bradford,  William,  emigrates,  12  ;  his 
journal,  14. 

Bradstreet,  Simon,  67,  68«,  209.  Fos- 
ter's death,  220. 

Brainard,  David,  297. 

Braintree  Company  arrived,  17 ;  re- 
moval to  Newtown,  18;  member- 
ship, 58«. 

Breck,  Robert,  330^,  337. 

Brewster,  William,  emigrates,  12. 

Brewster,  Prince,  322«. 

Brigham,  Daniel  W.,  414. 

Brown,  A.,  Jr.,  474. 

Brown,  Mrs.  Amelia  W.,  41 1«,  473. 

Brown,  Jeremiah,  374«. 

Brown,  Mary  A.,  374^. 

Brown,  Pardon,  460. 

Brown,  Roswell,  471. 

Browne,  Edward,  I72«. 

Browne,  Robert,  preaches  separation,  9. 

Brownists,  numbers  and  growth,  9 ; 
Hooker's  attitude  toward,  42. 

Brunson,  John,  420. 

Buck,  Daniel,  462,  464. 

Buckingham,  Thomas,  of  Second 
Church,  219;  marries  Ann  Fos- 
ter, 219;  trustee  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, 256-8 ;  attempts  a  rival 
Commencement,  261 ;  end  of 
college  quarrel,  261-3. 


INDEX. 


485 


Buckingham,  S.  G.,  403. 

Buell,  Robert,  471,  473. 

Bulckley,  Gershom,  the  Baptism  ques- 
tion, 202. 

Bulkley,  Peter,  78  ;  at  Hutchinsonian 
Synod,  loi ;  at   Synod  of   1657, 

I92«. 

Bulkley,  E.,  poem  on  Stone,  445. 

Bulkley,  Edward,  279. 

Bull,  Albert,  393«. 

Bull,  Caleb,  deacon,  414. 

Bull,  Mrs.  David,  464. 

Bull,   Isaac,   370^,   460,  462  ;  deacon, 

373.  414- 
Bull,  Isaac  D.,  460,  462. 
Bull,  Michael,  374«. 
Bull,  Thomas,  420,  460,  462. 
Bunce,  James  M.,  415,  471. 
Bunce,  Russell,  374,  415  ;  deacon,  414. 
Bunce,  Thomas,  I57«,  421. 
Bundling,  237«. 
Burgess,     Ebenezer,     supplies      First 

Church,  367. 
Burial-grounds,  early,  90-1. 
Burnham,  William,  marries  Ann   Fos 

ter  (Buckingham),  2i9«;  quarrel 

at  Kensington,  312. 
Burre,  Benjamin,  420. 
Burr,  Hezekiah,  461. 
Burr,  James,  460. 
Burr,  Joseph,  460,  464. 
Burr,  Moses,  461. 
Burr,  Rebecca,  460,  462. 
Burr,  Samuel,  462. 
Burr,  Timothy,  460,  462. 
Burton,    Nathaniel    J.,    406,    408;?  ; 

Richardson's    funeral     sermon, 

408. 
Bussaker,  Peter,  234. 
Butler,  Asa,  464. 
Butler,  Charles,  464. 
Butler,  Jonathan,  283;/ . 
Butler,  Richard,  58;?,  420  ;  deacon,  413. 
Butler,  Thomas,  232. 
Butler,  William,  419. 

c. 

Cadwell,  Edward,  283. 


Cadwell,  William,  337. 

Caldwell,  George,  460,  462. 

Caldwell,  James,  461. 

Caldwell,  John,  370;?,  460,  462. 

Calkins,  J.  F.,  398. 

Calkins,  Phineas  Wolcott,  early  life, 
398  ;  associate  Pastor  of  First 
Church,  398;  resigns,  399. 

Cambridge  Platform,  II4«;  endorsed 
by  Synod  of  1679,  246. 

Cambridge  Synod  of  1637,  loi  ;  of 
1643,  i^^  ;  of  1646-8,  113. 

Cambridge  University,  religious  atti- 
tude, 29. 

Camp,  Samuel  C,  460,  462. 

Capron,  Samuel  M.,  deacon,  414. 

Cartwright,  Thomas,  9,  29. 

Case,  David,  321. 

Catlin,  A.,  474. 

Catlin,  Benjamin,  283«. 

Catlin,  Julius,  471;  memorial  window, 
409. 

Catlin,  Samuel,  283;?. 

Chaderton,  Lawrence,  10 ;  at  Em- 
manuel, 31,  48. 

Chadwick,  William,  461. 

Chamberlain,  Mellen,  324«. 

Champlin,  John,  343«. 

Chapel  of  First  Church,  357,  see  Con- 
ference House. 

Chapin,  Aaron,  370«,  460,  462 ;  dea- 
con, 373,  414. 

Chapin,  Aaron  L.,  481. 

Chaplin,  Clement,  421. 

Charles  I,  12  ;  "Book  of  Sports,"  3. 

Charlestown  settled,  17  ;  Isaac  Foster, 
213. 

Charter  hidden,  244. 

Chauncey,  Charles  (President),  I'jzn, 
igzn. 

Chauncey,  Charles,  "  Seasonable 
Thoughts,"  3o6«. 

Chauncey,  Israel,  256. 

Chauncey,  Nathaniel,  190;/,  228. 

Chelmsford,  St.  Mary's  Church,  38; 
Hooker's  preaching,  37-9. 

Chenward,  John,  461. 

Chester,  Dorothy,  421. 


486 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


Chester,  Thomas,  463. 

Churches,  how  organized,  55«,  ^dn ; 
polity  influenced  by  early  sur- 
roundings, 54. 

Church  membership,  early  N.  E.  theo- 
ry, 185-90. 

Church,  Aaron,  349^. 

Church,  George,  464. 

Church,  Joseph,  321,  471. 

Church,  Leonard,  415. 

Church,  Mrs.  Leonard,  473 ;  gift  of  an 
organ,  409. 

Church,  Richard,  I57«,  420. 

Clap,  Thomas,  260,  264,  266. 

Clark,  Daniel,  169,  I79«,  218. 

Clark,  John,  58^,  419. 

Clark,  Simeon,  460. 

Clarke,  Nicholas,  420. 

Clifton,  Richard,  12. 

Clock,  present,  396. 

Coale,  James,  420. 

Cobb,  Dr.,  31 5«. 

Cobbett,  Thomas,  169,  172;/,  I92«. 

Cogswell,  Mason  F.,  462. 

Cogswell,  Roger,  460. 

Coit,  Samuel,  471. 

Colchester,  overtures  to  Hooker,  37. 

Cole,  Anne,  witchcraft,  176-8. 

Cole,  John,  I79«,  200. 

Coleman,  Lyman,  374«. 

Coles,  Susan,  233. 

CoUeyer,  John,  22 1«. 

Colleyer,  Joseph,  22 1«. 

Collins,  A.  M.,  464. 

Collins,  Edward,  183. 

Collins,  Samuel,  39. 

Collins,  Sybil,  marries  Whiting,   183, 

2IO«. 

Collins,  Timothy,  457. 

Colt,  Elisha,  463. 

Colton,  Aaron,  370W,  460,  463  ;  confer- 
ence house,  357 ;  notes  of  ser- 
mons, 365;?  ;  deacon,  -^^-t^,  414. 

Colton,  Benjamin,  277,  315;  White- 
fieldian   controversy,    298,   307, 

457- 
Colton,  Eli;  457. 
Colton,  Nathan,  471. 


Colton,  Walter,  374«. 

Cone,  William  R.,  286«,  473,  479. 

Conference,  Hartford,  formed,  "^^n. 

Conference  house,  built  in  Temple 
street,  357 ;  sold,  394 ;  present 
house,  395;  parlors,  407. 

Conkling,  Benjamin,  463. 

Consociation,  Hartford  North,  formed, 
268 ;  suspended,  385. 

Consociational  system,  causes,  263-4  ; 
action  of  the  Court,  264  ;  dele- 
gates, 265 ;  Saybrook  Platform, 
266-8 ;  associations  and  con- 
sociations formed,  268. 

Contributions  in  early  N.  E.  churches, 
230. 

Cook,  Abram,  352. 

Cook,  John,  232,  3i4«. 

Cooke,  Aaron  (Capt.),  252. 

Cooke,  Aaron,  461,  462. 

Cooke,  John,  473. 

Cooke,  Oliver  D.,  378;?,  461,  462. 

Cooley,  Francis  B.,  415,  473. 

Cooper,  Samuel  A.,  393W. 

Copeland,  Melvin,  415;  deacon,  414. 

Copping,  John,  9. 

Corning,  George  W.,  471,  473;  dea- 
con, 414, 

Corning,  Elisha  P.,  464. 

Corning,  Ezra,  461,  464;  deacon,  414. 

Cornwall,  William,  420. 

Cotton,  John,  i,  68,  76,  81,  no  ;  efforts 
to  associate  with  Hooker,  44, 
50;  Baptism,  52,  188;  Thurs- 
day lecture,  70 ;  influence,  82  ; 
Hutchinsonian  controversy,  97, 
99;  poem  on  Hooker,  428;  on 
Stone,  443. 

Cotton,  John,  Jr.,  supplies  First 
Church,  149. 

Court  of  Connecticut,  instituted,  103; 
Pequot  war,  92  ;  "Fundamental 
Laws,"  103;  conversion  of  In- 
dians, 150 ;  quarrel  in  First 
Church,  160,  167-72;  Baptism 
controversy,  191-203 ;  East 
Hartford  Church,  250;  Yale 
College     controversy,     256-62 ; 


INDEX. 


487 


Saybrook  system,  247,  264-8 ; 
First  Society  meeting-house, 
281,  284-6 ;  trial  of  Davenport 
and  Pomeroy,  30^-4;  forbid 
itinerant  preaching,  302 ;  at- 
tempts to  improve  public  mor- 
als, 246,  269. 

Court  of  Massachusetts,  complaints  of 
Newtown  settlers,  74  ;  rebukes 
William  Goodwin,  77 ;  Cam- 
bridge Synod,  113;  Hartford 
withdrawers'  petition,  168; 
church  membership,  187  ;  Sy- 
nod of  1657,  192;  Synod  of 
1679,  245. 

Covenant,  of  Boston  church,  58 ;  of 
First  Church,  57 ;  probable 
original  form,  207« ;  under 
Woodbridge,  Wadsworth,  and 
Dorr,  248;? ;  under  Strong,  375 ; 
Hawes'  objections,  375  ;  present 
form,   469;  of  Second  Church, 

207«. 

Cowles,  John,  I79«. 

Cowles,  Whitefield,  349«. 

Crane,  John,  369. 

Crittenden,  L.  M.,  474. 

Cross  in  Baptism,  Puritan  scruples,  8. 

Crow,  Elizabeth,  286«. 

Crow,  John,  i^jn,  419. 

Cudworth,  Ralph,  3i«. 

Cullick,  John,  155^,  I57«,  159,  160, 
i6i«,  168,  420. 

Currency,  Colonial,  in  Wadsworth's 
time,  276;  Dorr,  314;  Strong, 
340 ;  dollars  and  pounds,  34l«. 

Curtis,  Jeremiah,  298«. 

Curtis,  Mrs.  Lucius,  481. 

Cushman,  Elisha,  374«. 

Cutler,  Ebenezer,  398. 

Cutler,  Timothy,  243«,  263«. 

D. 

Daggett,  David,   anecdote  of  Strong, 

360. 
Daggett,  Oliver  E.,  anecdote  of  Hawes, 

388. 
Dana,  Daniel,  370. 


Danforth,  Daniel,  461,  462. 

Danforth,  Edward,  460,  462. 

Danforth,  Samuel  (Rev.),  169,  I72«. 

Davenport,  James,'Whitefield's  opinion 
of  him,  299;  extravagant  preach- 
ing, 300.  305;  trial,  303;  later 
life,  305. 

Davenport,  John,  102,  no,  112,  166; 
quarrel  between  Whiting  and 
Haynes,  184;  Baptism  question, 

193- 
Davenport,  John  2d,  299. 
Davies,  Thomas,  322. 
Davis,  John,   supplies  First   Church, 

149. 
Davis,  S.  P.,  474. 
Davis,  William,  149. 
Day,  Calvin,  396^,  415,  471,  473. 
Day,  John  C,  473. 
Day,  Noble,  461. 
Day,  Robert,  420. 
Day,  Robert  E.,  473. 
Day,  Thomas,  463. 
Deacons,   manner  of  choice  in  1691, 

249, 
Deane,  Jesse,  460,  462. 
Denne,  Christopher,  at  Tilton,  25. 
Dennis,  William,  9. 
Delft,  Hooker's  residence,  42. 
Dell,  William,  3i«. 
Dexter,  H.  M.,  I2«,  62w,  222«,   267, 

Dickinson,  James  T.,  supplies  First 
Church,  379«. 

Digby,  Sir  Everard,  24,  33. 

Digby  family,  22,  24. 

Dillingham,  Theophilus,  3i«. 

Disbroe,  Nicholas,  420. 

Dixie,  Sir  Wolstan,  founds  Market 
Bosworth  School,  27 ;  fellow- 
ships at  Emmanuel,  27«. 

Dod,  John,  35. 

Dodge,  David  L.,  461. 

Dodge,  Stephen,  460. 

Doddridge,  Philip,  292«. 

Dolphin,  vessel  captured  with  Foster, 
213. 

Doolittle,  Roswell,  464. 


488 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


Dorchester  Adventurers'  Company,  15. 

Dorr,  Edmund,  311. 

Dorr,  Edward  (of  Roxbury),  311. 

Dorr,  Edward,  287;/ ;  birth,  parentage, 
and  early  life,  311 ;  call  to  Ken- 
sington, 312;  called  by  First 
Society,  313;  ordination,  315; 
marries  Helena  Talcott,  315; 
religious  declension,  316;  Epis- 
copal movements,  322-6 ;  views 
on  Indian  question,  326;  failing 
health,  328  ;  death,  329  ;  funeral 
sermon,  330;  will,  332«. 

Drake,  Francis,  invites  Hooker  to 
Esher,  35. 

Drake,  Mrs.  Francis,  Hooker's  minis- 
trations, 36. 

Dudley,  Mercy,  238«. 

Dudley,  Thomas,  6Sn,  71 ;  settles  at 
Newtown,  67. 

Dunbar,  Moses,  340^. 

Dutton,  Deodatus,  393^. 

Dutton,  S.  W.  S.,  403. 

Dwight,  Theodore,  460,  462. 

Dwight,  Timothy,  339 ;  hymn  book, 
349 ;  First  Society  meeting- 
house, 356. 

Dwight,  Timothy,  398. 

Dyer,  Col.,  anecdote  of  Strong,  361. 

E. 

Earthquake  of  1755,  3i8«. 

East  Hartford  Church  formed,  250 ; 
Samuel  Woodbridge  settled, 
251. 

Easton,  Jonathan,  283;?, 

Easton,  Joseph,  420. 

Easton,  Joseph  (deacon),  231,  249,  413. 

Edward  VI,  Protestant  movement,  4. 

Edwards,  Daniel,  313,  314^,  328. 

Edwards,  John,  223^,  283,  287^  ;  pa- 
rentage, 2Sgn;  building  accounts 
of  First  Society,  289;    deacon, 

413- 
Edwards,  Jonathan,  273^ ;  revival  in 

Northampton,    292 ;    advice   to 

Whitefield,  294,  297. 
Edwards,  Jonathan  (Hartford),  370«. 


Edwards,  Jonathan  W.,  460,  462. 

Edwards,  Lewis,  374;/. 

Edwards,  Richard,  289«. 

Edwards,  Sarah,  328«. 

Edwards,   Timothy,    226,    273^,    276 ; 

eulogy  on  Woodbridge,  273. 
Edwards,  William,  289^. 
Eldridge,  C.  W.,  474. 
Eliot,  Sir  John,  13. 
Eliot,  John,  71,  170;;,  172^,  213;  with 

Hooker  at  Little  Baddow,  41. 
Eliot,  Joseph,  184^,  202. 
Elizabeth,  religious  policy,  7. 
Ellsworth,  John,  355«. 
Ellsworth,  Henry  L.,  378^,  464. 
Ellsworth,  Oliver,  34i«. 
Ellsworth,  P.  W.,  481. 
Ellsworth,  William  W.,  374, 378«,  415, 

471 ;  deacon,  414. 
Elmer,  Edward,  58^,  420. 
Elton,  C.  W.,  472. 
Ely,  Eli,  460,  462. 
Ely,  Nathaniel,  419. 
Ely,  William  B.,  471. 
Emerson,  John,  239W. 
Emmanuel  College  founded,  30;  Cal- 

vinistic    attitude,   31 ;    Hooker 

graduates,  29  ;  Stone  graduates, 

48. 
Endicott,  John,  15,  55,  72. 
Eno,  James,  ig6n. 
Ensign,  James,  419. 
Ensign,  Moses,  283«. 
Ensign,  Thomas,  232. 
Ensign,  Thomas  Jr.,  283«. 
Ensigne,  James,  283«. 
Ensworth,  Texell,  22i«. 
Episcopalians,  number  in  Hartford  in 

1774.  324- 

Episcopal  Church,  attempt  to  plant  in 
Hartford,  322. 

Episcopacy,  why  feared  by  the  N.  E. 
churches,  322-4 ;  action  of  Gen- 
eral Association,  324;  Dorr's 
sermon,  325. 

Esher,  Hooker  assumes  the  living,  34. 

Evangelical  Magazine,  350. 


INDEX. 


489 


Evening  meetings  instituted,  344  ;  con- 
ference house,  357. 


Fairfield,  Eastern  Consociation,  297. 
Fenwick,  "Lady,"  108. 
Fessenden,  Edson,  471,  473. 
Field,  Zachary,  I57«,  420. 
Fielde,  Thomas,  47. 
Filer,  Walter,  I79«. 
Firmin,  Giles,  129. 

First  Church,  57W,  66,  86;  when  gath- 
ered,   S3,   62 ;    how    organized, 
57-62 ;  remove  to  Hartford,  84 ; 
death  of    Hooker,   115;  efforts 
for   a  successor,   146-50;  cause 
of  quarrel  under  Stone,  152-5; 
Stone    resigns,    1 56 ;   Goodwin 
set   aside,    156;   minority  with- 
draw,   156;    Council    of    1656, 
157-S;  Council  of  1657,  160-2; 
apparent     reconciliation,     163; 
renewal  of  quarrel,  164;  Court 
interferes,    166,    169;    Council 
meets  at  Boston,  172;  minority 
emigrate  to  Hadley,  174;  merits 
of   the   quarrel,    174;    Whiting 
settled,    175;    Ha3'nes    settled, 
1S3 ;  Baptism  controversy,  184- 
205 ;    antecedent    causes,    185 ; 
Half-way  covenant,  194;  Church 
divided     and    Second    Church 
formed,  205  ;  death  of  Haynes, 
211;  Foster  settled,    212,    219; 
his  death,  220;  John  Holloway's 
gifts,  221 ;  Usages  in  early  days, 
222   seq.;    Woodbridge   settled, 
240 ;     state     of    religion,    241 ; 
revival,    247 ;     additions,    249 ; 
Woodbridge's  illness,  252  ;  his 
death,  271 ;  Wadsworth  settled, 
275 ;  meeting-house  controversy, 
27S-S7 ;     Whitefieldian     move- 
ment,    292-307  ;     Wadsworth's 
death,    310;  Dorr  settled,  315; 
religious  state,  316-19;    Dorr's 
death,  329 ;  Strong  settled,  337  ; 
revivals,  344,  356 ;  evening  meet- 
62 


ings  instituted,  344,  356 ;  present 
meeting-house,  352;  conference 
house,  357  ;  called  ''  Presbyteri- 
an," 358  ;  death  of  Strong,  365  ; 
Hawes    settled,    371;    Sunday- 
School,    374;   Prudential   Com- 
mittee,   375;    revivals,   376-80, 
397;  colonies  from  First  Church, 
380 ;     Calkins    settled    as    col- 
league, 398 ;  resigns,  399 ;  Gould 
settled,  403 ;    death  of  Hawes, 
400;  Gould  resigns,  405;  Rich- 
ardson    settled,    405 ;     resigns, 
408  ;  Walker  settled,  408;  pres- 
ent membership  and  prospects, 
411. 
First  Society  formed,   205«;    seating, 
230 ;  boys,   232  ;    Woodbridge's 
settlement  and  illness,  239,  240, 
251-2  ;  East  Hartford  Society, 
250;    Wadsworth's    settlement, 
271,  275;    singing,  228;    meet- 
inghouse controversy,  278-289 ; 
lands    given,    22i«;    alienated, 
321 ;     Dorr's     settlement,    309, 
313;    _  Watts'      Psalms,      320; 
Strong's  settlement,  335  ;  parish 
fund   raised,    351;    spent,   395; 
present    meeting-house,   352-5  ; 
conference     house,     357,    394; 
Hawes'  settlement,  370;  organs 
393,   409 ;    alterations  of  meet- 
ing-house, 395,  409 ;  Warburton 
Chapel,  404 ;    Parsonage,  404  ; 
Calkins     called,     398 ;     Gould 
called,  403 ;  Richardson  called, 
405 ;  Walker  called,  408  ;  debt 
paid,   408 ;    250th   anniversary, 
409. 
Fish,  Eliakim,  460. 
Fish,  Miller,  462. 
Fisher,  Louisa,  372. 
Fisher,  Thomas,  421. 
Fitch,     Eleazer     T.,     supplies     First 

Church,  367,  371. 
Fitch,  H.,  471. 
Fitch,  James,  18 r,  202,  242. 
Fitch,  Joseph,  200,  447. 


490 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN  HARTFORD. 


Fitch,  Samuel,  149;/. 

Flint,  Abel,  344^,  348,  349«,  354,  360, 

371.  374- 

Forbes,  John,  42. 

Foster,  Ann,  marries  Thomas  Buck- 
ingham, 219;  marries  William 
Burnham,  zign. 

Foster,  Isaac,  birth  and  parentage, 
212;  captured  by  the  Turks, 
213 ;  overtures  from  several 
churches,  213-15;  called  to 
Windsor,  217;  settled  over 
First  Church,  212,  219;  marries 
Mehitabel  Willys  (Russell),  219 ; 
death,  220. 

Foster,  James  P.,  415. 

Foster,  Mrs.  Mehitable  (Russell),  219, 
240. 

Foster,  William,  212. 

Foster,  Mrs.  William,  212. 

Fourth  (Free)  Church,  formation,  380. 

Fox,  Gurdon,  471. 

Freeman,  Luther,  464. 

French  &  Wales,  471. 

Friend,  John,  421. 

Fuller,  Daniel,  298;;,  457. 

Fuller,  H.  S.,  473. 

Fuller,  Samuel,  54. 

Fund  raised  by  First  Society,  351  ; 
expended,  395. 

Fundamental  Laws  enacted,  103 ; 
Hooker's  influence,  105. 

Funerals,  early  N.  E.  customs,  234. 

G. 

Gage,  William  L.,  405,  408. 
Gallaudet,  Peter  W.,  352,  460,  463. 
Gannet,  John  M.,  464. 
Garwood,  Daniel,  420. 
Gaylord,  William,  31 5«. 
Gibbons,  William,  419. 
Gibbons,  Mrs.  William,  i^g/i. 
Gilbert,  John,  200. 
Gilbert,  Joseph,  Jr.,  229,  291. 
Gilbert,  Joseph  B.,  374W. 
Gilbert,  Mrs.  Mary,  222,  240;?. 
Gill,  Alfred,  471. 
Gill,  T.  J.,  474- 


Gillett,  A.  B.,  474. 

Gillett,  Ralph,  471,  473. 

Gilman,  Eli,  415. 

Ginnings,  John,  420. 

Gladden,  Steward,  464. 

Gleason,  Anson,  376«. 

Gleason,  Chauncey,  462. 

Goodell,  C.  L.,  405. 

Goodfellow,  Thomas,  421. 

Goodman,  Richard,  early  settler,  58^, 

419. 
Goodman,  Richard,  352,  461,  462. 
Goodrich,  Charles  A.,  415,  472. 
Goodrich,  Chauncey,  460,  462. 
Goodrich,  Elizur,  471. 
Goodrich,  Samuel,  371. 
Goodwin,  Anna,  460,  464. 
Goodwin,  Caleb,  374,  415. 
Goodwin,  Daniel,  deacon,  319,  414. 
Goodwin,  Mrs.  Daniel,  464. 
Goodwin,  David,  464. 
Goodwin,  Edward,  353«,  415. 
Goodwin,   George,   337;?,    352,    378«, 

460,  462. 
Goodwin,  Hannah,  196^. 
Goodwin,  Hosea,  420. 
Goodwin,  James,  2d,  461. 
Goodwin,  James  M.,  374«. 
Goodwin,  Jonathan,  461. 
Goodwin,  Nathaniel,  Sr.,  221;/,  240«. 
Goodvyin,  Nathaniel,  deacon,  249,  413. 
Goodwin,  Ozias,  I57«. 
Goodwin,  Ozias,  deacon,  319,  414. 
Goodwin,  Samuel,  461,  464. 
Goodwin,  Thomas,  119. 
Goodwin,  William  (ruling  elder),  58^, 

60,  81,   102,   i6i«,  423;    ruling 

elder,  59;   home   lot,   87,   419; 

quarrel   with    Stone,    154-173; 

removes  with  his  party  to  Had- 

ley,  174  ;  dies,  413. 
Goodwin,  William  (sexton),  2io«. 
Goodwin,  William,  "  to  set  the  psalm," 

229. 
Goodwin,  William,  461. 
Goodwins  &  Sheldon,  471. 
Gould,    George    H.,    390;/,   401,   405, 

4o8«;   early  life,   403;    settled 


INDEX. 


491 


over  First  Church,  403 ;  minis- 
try, 404 ;  resigns,  405. 

Grannis,  Edward,  200. 

Grant,  Matthew,  95;;,  117,  429. 

Grant,  Seth,  420. 

Grave,  George,  420. 

Graves,  Isaac,  I57«. 

Graves,  M.  W.,  473. 

Graves,  Thomas,  218. 

Gray,  Walter,  233. 

Great  awakening,  beginnings,  292 ; 
Whitefield's  preaching,  293-7 ; 
extravagancies,  298  seq.;  legisla- 
tive acts,  301-3  ;  public  opinion 
divided,  305. 

Greatorex,  Henry  W.,  393«. 

Greene,  Bartholomew,  421. 

Greene,  B.  W.,  471. 

Green,  Samuel,  379. 

Greenhill,  Samuel,  421. 

Greenleaf,  David,  461. 

Greensmith,  Nathaniel,  witchcraft,  178, 
179;/. 

Greensmith,  Rebecca,  178,  i79«. 

Greenwood,  John,  9. 

Gregson,  Phebe,  2io«. 

Gridley,  Thomas,  420. 

Griffin  (vessel),  i. 

Griffing,  R.  A.,  474. 

Griswold,  Edward,  179;;. 

Griswold,  Mary,  311. 

Griswold,  Matthew,  311. 

Griswold,  Phebe,  31 1«. 

H. 

Hadley  settled  by  withdrawers  from 
First  Church,  174. 

Hale,  Richard,  47. 

Hale,  Samuel,  I79«. 

Hales,  Samuel,  420. 

Hales,  Thomas,  420. 

Half-way  Covenant  (see  also  Baptism), 
principle  involved,  193-5  >  when 
introduced,  204^;  effect,  241, 
270,  317,  341 ;  abandoned  by 
First  Church,  357. 

Hall,  John,  420,  462. 


Hamilton,  Samuel,  471,  473  ;  memorial 

window,  409. 
Hampton  Court  Conference,  10. 
Hanford,  Thomas,  I98«. 
Harlakenden,  Mabel,  183. 
Harris,  Nicholas,  472. 
Harris,  Walter,  472. 
Harrison,  E.  F.,  474. 
Harriss,  Joseph,  461. 
Hart,  John,  i79«. 
Hart,   John,   Dorr's    ordination,    279, 

Hart,  Joseph,  461. 

Hart,  Levi,  368«. 

Hart,  Luther,  349^,  350. 

Hart,  Stephen,  58;/,  419. 

Hart,  William,  300. 

Hartford,  2,  87,  90,  244,  280 ;  removal 
from  Newtown,  75-85;  begin- 
nings of  settlement,  83 ;  first 
court,  84  ;  laid  out,  87 ;  named, 
180;  original  proprietors,  419; 
epidemic  of  1647,   "4;   size  in 

1755.  319- 

Harvard  College,  early  support  from 
Conn.,  146. 

Hawes,  Erskine  J.,  401. 

Hawes,  Joel,  378,  379,  382,  383;  birth 
and  early  life,  369;  settled  over 
First  Church,  368-71;  marries 
Louisa  Fisher,  372 ;  Sunday- 
Schools  organized,  374;  present 
Articles  of  Faith,  375;  revivals, 
376-80 ;  "  Lectures,"  377  ;  writ- 
ings, 385  ;  traits  and  anecdotes, 
382,  386-91  ;  Pastor  Emeritus, 
399;  death,  400;  children,  401; 
will,  40IW. 

Hawes,  Mrs.  Louisa,  372,  401. 

Hawes,  Mary,  382-3. 

Hawley,  Rufus,  349«. 

Hayden,  William,  420. 

Haynes,  John  (Governor),  2,  68«,  71, 
73,  80,  81,  i07«,  419. 

Haynes,  John,  252,  265. 

Haynes,  Joseph,  birth  and  education, 
183 ;  settled  over  First  Church, 
183;  witchcraft  trials,  177 ;  Bap- 


492 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


tism  controversy,  184-204 ;  First 
Church  divided,  205 ;  marries 
Sarah  Lord,  211;  children, 
2iiu;  death  and  will,  211. 

Heath,  Isaac,  iy2n. 

Heaton,  Stephen,  457. 

Hender,  Thomas,  471. 

Henry  VIII,  religious  policy,  4. 

Herbert,  Benjamin,  I57«. 

Heretics,  laws  against,  I04«. 

Hertford,  Stone's  birthplace,  46;  de- 
scription, 47. 

Hewitt,  Nathaniel,  379. 

High  Commission,  7. 

Higginson,  Francis,  15,  56. 

Higginson,  John,  Sgn,  119,  154^,  157, 
166,  420,  447. 

Hill,  Thomas,  ^m. 

Hill,  William,  420. 

Hills,  J.  Coolidge,  473. 

Hills,  William,  462. 

Hinckley,  Governor,  214. 

Hincks,  E.  Y.,  4o8«. 

Hitchcock,  Eliakim,  463. 

Hoadly,  C.  J.,  vi,  89//,  90;;,  177//,  200«, 
253;/,  287^,  321M,  322«. 

Holcomb,  James  H.,  471. 

Hollister,  Whiting,  415. 

Holloway,  John,  420 ;  gift  to  First 
Church,  221. 

Holton,  William,  420. 

Hooker,  Anne,  4i«. 

Hooker,  Bryan  E.,  471,  473;  deacon, 
414. 

Hooker,  Johanna,  36;/,  422. 

Hooker,  John,  22. 

Hooker,  John,  Hooker's  will,  422. 

Hooker,  Mary,  423. 

Hooker,  Nathaniel,  285. 

Hooker,  Samuel,  I78«,  182,  201,  217, 
218,  422. 

Hooker,  Sarah,  40;?,  423. 

Hooker,  Sarah,  328«. 

Hooker,  Thomas,  birth  and  parentage, 
20 ;  at  school  at  Market  Bos- 
worth,  26;  at  Emmanuel,  28-34  ; 
conversion,  34;   at   Esher,   34; 


marries  Susanna  —— ,  36 ;  lec- 
turer at  Chelmsford,  37-39; 
attracts  notice  of  Laud,  39; 
teaches  at  Little  Baddow,  41 ; 
cited  before  the  High  Commis- 
sion, 41  ;  flees  to  Holland,  41-2 ; 
Amsterdam,  42 ;  Delft,  42 ;  Rot- 
terdam, 43 ;  negotiations  to  go 
to  N.  E.,  44 ;  with  Cotton,  50 ; 
with  Stone,  50;  arrival,  i,  18, 
68 ;  ordained  at  Newtown,  61  ; 
Roger  Williams,  72 ;  John  Endi- 
cott,  72  ;^ restlessness  of  the  New- 
town people,  74-83  ;  removal  to 
Hartford,  84-5 ;  Home  lot,  87, 
419;  Pequot  war,  92;  Thanks- 
giving Sermon,  1638,  95;  mode- 
rator of  Synod  of  1637,  97,  loi ; 
Synod  of  1643,  i^^!  Westmin- 
ster Assembly,  lie;  preaching, 
121;  personal  appearance,  122; 
last  sermon,  116,  429;  death, 
114-5;  commemorative  poems, 
426;  will  and  inventory,  115, 
422.  Writings,  purpose,  1 18-21; 
published  works,  435,  "  Survey," 
112,  144-5;  Theological  views, 
123;  clear  view  of  sin  necessary 
for  conversion,  125;  danger  of 
self-deception,  128;  "Hopkins- 
ian"  views,  129;  inability  of 
man,  133;  God's  purpose  not 
always  to  save,  134;  extent  of 
God's  work,  136;  consolations 
of  the  Gospel,  137  ;  witness  of 
the  Spirit,  139;  age  at  conver- 
sion, 140 ;  what  is  a  powerful 
ministry?  141. 

Hooker,  Mrs.  Thomas,  36,  84,  422. 

Hooper,  Bishop,  5. 

Hopkins,  Asa,  460. 

Hopkins,  Benjamin  G.,  474. 

Hopkins,  Daniel,  460,  464. 

Hopkins,  Daniel,  P.,  374«. 

Hopkins,  Edward,  94,  419,  423. 

Hopkins,  John,  419. 

Hopkins,  Rena,  463. 


INDEX. 


493 


Hopkins,  Thomas,  283«,  3I4«. 

Horton,  Thomas,  31;/. 

Hosmer,  Charles,  464. 

Hosmer,  Mrs.  Charles,  407. 

Hosmer,  James,  352,  460,  462. 

Hosmer,  James  B.,  giw,  463,  471. 

Hosmer,  Thomas,  58^,  419. 

Hotchkiss,  A.  C,  474. 

Hotchkiss,  Samuel  M.,  415,  474;  dea- 
con, 414. 

House,  William  W.,  409;/,  415,  471, 
473 ;  deacon,  414. 

Hovey,  Alvah,  379. 

Howe,  Daniel  R.,  411;;,  473;  deacon, 
414. 

Howe,  Edmund  G.,  471. 

Howe,  Mrs.  E.  G.,  473. 

Howe,  Joseph,  early  life,  334 ;  overtures 
of    First    Society,   333;     death, 

334- 
Hubbard,  George,  420. 
Hubbard,    Nathaniel,    supplies    First 

Church,  253. 
Hubbard,  William,  I72«. 
Hudson,    Barzillai,    357,     378«,    415, 

471. 
Hudson,  Henry,  374,  378«,4i5,  462. 
Hudson,  W.,  471. 
Hudson,  William  M.,  415,  473. 
Humphrey,     Heman,     supplies    First 

Church,  367;?. 
Humphrey,  Michael,  ig6n. 
Hungerforth,  Thomas,  421. 
Hungerford  &  Cone,  471. 
Hunt,  E.  K.,  473. 
Huntington,  Joseph,  348^  ;  "  Calvinism 

Improved,"  348. 
Huntington,  J.  S.,  472. 
Huntington,  Samuel,  348«. 
Huntington,  Thomas,  460. 
Hurd,  William  S.,  415;  deacon,  414. 
Hutchinson,  Mrs.  Anne,  82,  97  ;  doc- 


Ince,  Jonathan,  420. 

Indians,  91,  94,  241,  245;  sell  land  to 
settlers,  87  ;  Pequot  war,  92  ; 
drunkenness,  243;  school  at 
Farmington,  254 ;  Dorr's  plea, 
326 ;  Wheelock's  school,   328«. 

Ives,  Chauncey,  471. 

J- 

James  I,  11,  33;  Puritan  hopes,  10. 

James    II,    changes   Colonial    govern- 
ments, 243. 
Jenkins,  J.  L.,  403. 
Jepson,  William,  322. 
Jewell,  Charles  A.,  4ogn,  473. 
Jewell,  Mrs.  Charles  A.,  473. 
Jewell,  Mrs.  Emily,  473. 
Johnson,  Edward,  poem,  443. 
Johnson,  Mary,  iy6n. 
Johnson,  Nathan,  394;?. 
Jones,  Julius,  461. 
Jones,  Rhoda,  460. 
Jones,  Richard  L.,  463. 
Jones,  W.  Wallace,  anecdote  of  Hawes, 

389- 
Jubal  Society,  393«. 
Judd,  Thomas,  419. 

K. 

Keaine,  Robert,  70. 
Keeny,  Joseph,  461,  464. 
Kellogg,  Hawley,  473. 
Kellog,  Nathaniel,  420. 
Kelsey,  Levi,  461. 
Kelsey,  Stephen,  22i«. 
Kelsey,  William,  58M,  420. 
Kendall,  S.  P.,  396^,  471. 
Kennedy,  Algernon  S.,  376«. 
Kensington,  Dorr,  called,  312. 
Keylor,  Ralph,  420. 
King  Philip,  241. 


trines,  98-9;  Synod  of  1637,  loi;  [  King,  Charles  B.,  463. 


exiled,  102;  killed,  102. 
Hyde,  Ezra,  461. 
Hyde,  William,  420. 


King,  Thomas,  283«. 
Kingsbury,  Andrew,  357,  378«,  462. 
I  Kingsbury,  Betsy,  374«. 


494 

Kirk, 


THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


Edward  N., 


revival  preaching, 


379- 
Knewstubs,  lo. 
Knox,  David,  357. 
Knox,  Elijah,  374«. 
Knox,  Normand,  461, 
Knox,  Susan,  374«. 


462-3. 


Lands,  given  by  John  Holloway,  221  ; 
alienated  by  First  Society,  321. 

Langdon,  H.  B.,  474. 

Langdon,  R.,  464. 

Latimer,  John,  I48«. 

Larcum,  John,  321. 

Larcum,  Sarah,  321. 

Lathrop,  Frederick,  463. 

Laud,  Archbishop,  3 ;  character,  13; 
Hooker,  40-1. 

Law,  Jonathan,  301. 

Lawrence,  Edward  A.,  37 2«. 

Lawrence,  John,  335,  336. 

Lawrence,  Samuel,  460,  462. 

Lawrence,  William,  460,  462. 

Lay,  Edward,  420. 

Lechford,  Thomas,  56;/,  i87«. 

Lecture,  weekly,  in  early  New  Eng- 
land, 232  (see  Thtnsday  Lecture). 

Lectureships,  Puritan,  37-8. 

Ledlie,  Hugh,  337. 

Lee,  John,  462. 

Leffingwell,  John,  352,  462. 

Leighton,  Alexander,  41. 

Lewis,  William,  58«,  157^,  419. 

Little  Baddow,Hooker  teaches  there, 41. 

Little,  Ephraim,  304. 

Loomis,  John,  217. 

Lord,  Epaphras,  2S6«. 

Lord,  George,  328«. 

Lord,  Ichabod,  286«. 

Lord,  Richard,  58^,  22 1«,  286;;,  420. 

Lord,  Thomas,  419. 

Lord,  Thomas,  Jr.,  420. 

Lord,  William,  461. 

Lord,  William  H.,  called  by  First 
Church,  405. 

Lothrop,  Frederick,  463. 

Lothrop,  James,  460,  462. 


Ludlow,  Roger,  16,94,  97. 
Lyman,  Richard,  420. 
Lyman,  Theodore,  393«. 
Lynde,  Joseph,  463. 

M. 

Manwaring,  John,  25-6. 
Marfield,  Hooker's  birthplace,  20-1. 
Market  Bosworth,  school,  27. 
Marriage,  Early  New  England  customs, 

235 ;     ministers     authorized    to 

marry,  236. 
Marsh,  Cyrus,  457. 
Marsh,  Hezekiah,  3i4«. 
Marsh,  John,  I57«,  420. 
Marsh,  John,  of  Wethersfield,  364;^. 
Marsh,   Jonathan,  276,  292,  298«. 
Marsh,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  298^,  457. 
Marshall,  Samuel,  I79«. 
Marvell,  Matthew,  419. 
Marvin,  Reynold,  421. 
Mary,  religious  policy,  5, 
Mather,  Charles,  460,  462. 
Mather,  Cotton,  129,  213  ;  Ratio  Dis- 

ciplincE,  224«. 
Mather,  Increase,  129M.,  213,  216,  218, 

252«. 

Mather,  Richard,  \\\ii.,  159,  i72«,  188, 
192^., 

Mather,  Roland,  471. 

Mather,  Samuel,  213,  215,  256. 

Mather,  Samuel  (Capt.),  279. 

Mason,  John,  16;  Pequot  war,  92. 

Mason,  Jonathan,  283;;. 

Mason,  Lowell,  393. 

Massachusetts  Bay  Company,  15. 

Maverick,  John,  16. 

Maynard,  John,  420. 

McCurdy,  Anna,  342. 

McEwen,  Malcom,  343«. 

McKinstry,  John,  457. 

Meacham,  Esther,  338. 

Meacham,  Joseph,  338. 

Meeting-House,  at  Newtown,  53,  68 ; 
temporary  structure  in  Hartford, 
88 ;  first  permanent  building, 
89-90 ;  controversy  under  Wads- 
worth,    278-87 ;   second    house 


INDEX. 


495 


built,  288-90;  struck  by  light- 
ning, 320  ;  rod  and  clock,  321  ; 
present  edifice  built,  352-5 ; 
ground  plan  in  1809,  466-7 ; 
alterations,  395,  409. 

Merrell,  W.,  22111. 

Michaelson,  John,  37. 

Mildmay,  Roger,  38. 

Mildmay,  Sir  Walter,  38  ;  founds  Em- 
manuel, 30. 

Millard,  C.  T.,  474. 

Millenary  Petition,  10. 

Miller,  William  F.,  349^. 

Miller,  William  H.,  deacon,  414. 

Ministers'  Meeting,  68. 

Minor,  John,  150. 

Minturn,  Benjamin  G.,  343«. 

Missionary  Society  of  Conn.,  organized, 
350. 

Mitchell,  Jonathan,  169, 172^,  173,  192, 
200;  preaches  to  First  Church, 
146  ;  settles  at  Cambridge,  147. 

Mitchell,  Walter,  461-2. 

Mix,  John  G.,  471. 

Moody,  Dwight  L.,  407. 

Moodey,  John,  419. 

Moore,  Daniel,  461. 

Morals,  decline  from  earliest  period, 
236. 

Morgan,  Dwell,  460,  462. 

Morgan,  N.  H.,  474. 

Morley,  Gideon,  461. 

Morrice,  John,  420. 

Morris,  Myron  S.,  405. 

Moses,  John,  196//. 

Mosely,  Samuel,  368;?. 

Mosely,  Sarah,  368«. 

Mosely,  William,  460,  462. 

Mount  Wollaston,  settled,  17. 

Munn,  Benjamin,  420. 

Munson,  Thomas,  421. 

Music,  in  early  New  England  worship, 
224-6 ;  in  First  Church,   226-9. 

Mussy,  Hester,  58;;. 

Mygatt,  Joseph,  420 ;  deacon,  413. 

N. 

Nash,   Mr.,  gives  bond  for  Hooker,  41. 
Nettleton,  Asahel,  379. 


Newbury,  Benjamin,  217. 

Newbury,  Henry,  462. 

New  Haven,  112,  192,  230;  church  or- 
ganized, 107. 

Newton,  Joan,  236. 

Newtown,  settled,  18,  67  ;  Woods'  de- 
scription, 67  ;  discontent  of  the 
settlers,  74-81  ;  houses  sold  to 
Shepard's  company,  83 ;  emi- 
gration to  Hartford,  83-5. 

Nichols,  Cyprian,  231,  252,  275,  279, 
283^. 

Nichols,  James,  337. 

Noble,  Thomas,  47. 

Norris,  Edward,  183,  I92«. 

North  Church,  formation,  380. 

Northampton,  revival,  292. 

Northway,  George,  232. 

Norton,  John,  50,  159,  161,  169,  172;?, 
192;/. 

Norton,  Romanta,  464. 

Nott,  Abraham,  300. 

Nowell,  Samuel,  218. 

Noyes,  James,  of  Newbury,  iii. 

Noyes,  James,  of  Stonington,  256. 

Noyes,  Joseph,  259,  301. 

Nye,  Philip,  1 1 9. 


o. 


Oaks,  Frederick,  464. 

Oakes,  Urian,  216,  218. 

Olcock,  Thomas,  420. 

Olcott,  Michael,  374^. 

Olmstead,  Ensign,  ijgji. 

Olmstead,  James,  58;;,  419. 

Olmstead,  John,  420. 

Olmstead,  Joseph,   231;    deacon,   249, 

413- 

Olmsted,  Lynde,  393«. 

Olmstead,  Nicholas,  200,  233. 

Olmstead,  Richard,  91,  420. 

Ordination,  Episcopal,  how  regarded, 
56«. 

Organ,  introduced,  393  ;  second  instru- 
ment, 393  ;  present  organ  given 
by  Mrs.  Church,  409;  descrip- 
tion, 475. 


496 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


P. 

Paget,  John,  42. 

Paine,  L.  L.,  398. 

Palmer,  Cotton,  287-8. 

Pantry,  William,  419. 

Parish  system,  iSjn. 

Parker,  John  D.,  474. 

Parker,  Edwin  P.,  2o8«,  401,  408;/. 

Parker,  Robert,  2;^Sn. 

Parker,  Thomas,  iii,  238. 

Parker,  William,  420. 

Parsonage,  378«,  404. 

Parsons,  David,  371. 

Parsons,  Francis,  471. 

Parsons,  H.  M.,  403. 

Parsons,  John  C,  409W,  473,  480. 

Parsons,  Jonathan,  295«,  311. 

Partridge,  Ralph,  188-9. 

Partrigg,  William,  I57«. 

Pastor,  office  of,  62-3. 

Patten,  George  J.,  461,  463. 

Patten,  Ruth,  462. 

Patten,  William,  329. 

Patton,  Nathaniel,  462. 

Payne,  Benjamin,  deacon,  414. 

Pearl  Street  Church,  formation,  380-1. 

Pease,  Theodore,  374«. 

Peck,  Paul,  420  ;  deacon,  249-413. 

Peck,  Paul,  Jr.,  249. 

Pelsant,  William,  27. 

Penry,  John,  9. 

Pentecost,  George  F.,  407. 

Pequot  War,  91-4. 

Perkins,  Edward  H.,  407. 

Perkins,  Mrs.  Edward  H.,  473. 

Perkins,  Enoch,  370^,  460,  462,  463. 

Perkins,  George  C,  407. 

Perkins,  Mrs.  George  C,  473. 

Perkins,  Henry  A.,  415,  471. 

Perkins,  Mrs.  H.  A.,  473. 

Perkins,  Matthew,  333«. 

Perkins,  Nancy,  374;?. 

Perkins,  Nathan,  349«,  354,   366,   371 ; 

ministry  at  West  Hartford,  333«. 
Perkins,  Timothy  P.,  460. 
Perkins,  William,  29. 
Perry,  David,  supplies  First  Church, 

36S«- 


Perry,.  David  L.,  342«. 

Phelps,  Anson  G.,  463. 

Phelps,  Austin,  398. 

Phelps,  Benjamin,  464. 

Phelps,  Timothy,  343^. 

Phillips,  William,  420. 

Pierce,  John,  421. 

Pierpont,  James,  252«,  256. 

Pierson,  Abraham,  256-7. 

Pike,  John,  239^. 

Pitkin,  A.  H.,  474. 

Pitkin,  A.  P.,  473. 

Pitkin,  Catherine,  333W. 

Pitkin,  John  O.,  415. 

Pitkin,  Joseph,  31 5«. 

Pitkin,  Roger,  22i«. 

Pitkin,  Timothy,  333«,  337. 

Pitkin,  William,  i95«;  petition  re- 
specting Baptism,  195-6,  200. 

Plymouth,  12,  192;  influence  of  the 
church  in  moulding  early  N.  E. 
polity,  54-5. 

Pomeroy,  Benjamin,  Whitefieldian 
movement,  301-4. 

Porter,  Daniel,  462. 

Porter,  David,  460,  463. 

Porter,  H.  L.,  471. 

Porter,  Isaac,  349«. 

Post,  Stephen,  89,  419. 

Pratt,  Abram,  421. 

Pratt,  Daniel,  249. 

Pratt,  Harry,  461. 

Pratt,  H.  L.,  471. 

Pratt,  John,  77-8,  419. 

Pratt,  Lucia,  460. 

Pratt,  T.  Willis,  472. 

Pratt,  William,  420. 

Pratt,  Zachariah,  461. 

Prayer,  in  early  N.  E.  worship,  223 ;  at 
funerals,  234. 

Prayer-Book,  few  traces  in  early  N.  E. 

literature,  223. 
Prentiss,  Betsey,  369. 
Presbyterian     Assembly,     intercourse 
with  the  general  association,  358. 
Presbyterianism,  declared   to  be  Con- 
gregationalism, 358. 
Price,  W.  T.,  474. 


INDEX. 


497 


Prudden,  Peter,  157,  190. 

Prudential  Committee,  instituted,  374. 

Punishments,  at  Lecture-time,  233. 

Purcasse,  John,  420. 

Puritans,  origin  of  the  name,  6. 

Putnam,  George,  374«. 

Pynchon,  William,  94,  97. 

Q. 

Quakers,  laws  against,  I04«. 
Queen's  College,  Hooker  matriculated, 
28. 

R. 

Randall,  Abraham,  236«. 

Randolph,  Edward,  244. 

Raynolds,  Dr.,  10. 

Read,  John,  251;  supplies  First  Church, 

253- 
Reeve,  Robert  ig6n. 
Rich,  Charles,  supplies  First  Church, 

382W. 
Richards,  James,  200,  217. 
Richards,  John,  I49«,  249. 
Richards,  Nathaniel,  58;?,  420. 
Richards,  Thomas,  421. 
Richards,  Thomas,  275,  283;;  ;  deacon, 

250,  413- 

Richardson,  Elias  H.,  408;/,  early  life, 
406 ;  settled  over  First  Church, 
405  ;  ministry,  406-7  ;  resigns, 
408 ;  settled  at  New  Britain, 
408 ;  death,  408. 

Riddle,  Matthew  B.,  473. 

Ripley,  Jabez,  464. 

Ripley,  John,  461,  464. 

Robbins,  Thomas,  344,  362. 

Roberts,  George,  415. 

Roberts,  Mrs.  George,  473. 

Roberts,  George,  Jr.,  473. 

Roberts,  Henry,  473. 

Robinson,  John,  12. 

Rockwell,  Matthew,  315W. 

Rockwood  &  Prior,  472. 

Rogers,  E.,  I92«/  poem  on  Hooker, 
427. 

Rogers,  Joseph,  464. 

Rogers,  Nathaniel,  190. 

Roosevelt,  H.  L.,  475. 
63 


Root,  Ephraim,  460,  462. 
Root,  Jesse,  336. 
Root,  Thomas,  420. 
Rosseter,  Bray,  i64«,  447. 
Rotterdam,  Hooker's  residence,  43. 
Rowland,     David     S.,    Whitefieldian 

movement,  308-9. 
Rowland,  Henry  A.,  371. 
JRuling  Eldership,  nature  of  office,  59. 
Ruscoe,  William,  419. 
Russell,  Barzillai,  463. 
Russell,  Mrs.  Daniel,  219. 
Russell,  John,  165;?,  193. 
Russell,  Mehitable,  3io«. 
Russell,  Noadiah,  256. 
Russell,  Richard,  I72«. 
Russell,  Samuel,  256. 
Russell,  William,  295. 
Rust,  George,  471. 


Sables,  John,  421. 

Sackett,  Simon,  58«. 

Sadler,  John,  3i«. 

Sage,  Seth,  349«. 

Saints'  Days,  Puritan  scruples,  S. 

Salem,  settled,  15;  church,  16,  54-6, 
190. 

Saltonstall,  Gurdon,  254,  260,  261. 

Sanford,  Robert  (sexton),  2io«. 

Sanford,  Robert,  322. 

Sanford,  Thomas,  461. 

Sargeant,  Jacob,  460,  462, 463. 

Sassacus,  94. 

Saybrook,  Yale  College,  256,  262. 

Saybrook  Platform,  302,  318,  452. 

Saybrook,  Synod  (see  also  Consoda- 
tional System),  convened,  263-5  > 
results,  266-S,  452. 

Scott,  Thomas,  419. 

Scottow,  Joshua,  234«. 

Scripture-reading  in  early  N.  E.  wor- 
ship, 224. 

Scrooby,  emigration  of  Separatist  con- 
gregation, 12. 

Seaman,  Lazarus,  3i«. 

Seating,  in  early  N.  E.  meeting-houses, 
230;  how  graded,  23i«;  in  First 
Church,  231,  320. 


THE   FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


498 

Second  Church,  formed,  205;  declara- 
tion, 206 ;  covenant,  207??. 

Selden,  Thomas,  420. 

Separatist  movement,  5,  6. 

Sequestration,  committee  of,  25,  26. 

Sequin,  92;/. 

Sermon,  in  early  N.  E.  worship,  229. 

Sewall,  Samuel,  213,  252«. 

Sexton,  George,  222;/. 

Seymour,  Charles,  378;?,  460,   462. 

Seymour,  Charles,  Jr.,  355^,  471,  473. 

Seymour,  Harvey,  333^,  368,  471,  473- 

Seymour,  Richard,  420. 

Sheldon,  Isaac,  3i5«. 

Sheldon  (Shelding),  John,  275,  278^, 
279,  280  ;  deacon,  250,  413. 

Sheldon,  John,  461. 

Shepard,  James,  335. 

Shepard  (Shepherd),  John,  283;?; 
deacon,  250,  413. 

Shepard,  John,  314^^;  deacon,  414. 

Shepard,  Joseph,  283^. 

Shepard,  Joseph,  Jr.,  283;;. 

Shepard,  Samuel,  of  Rowley,  i83«. 

Shepard,  Samuel,  283W. 

Shepard,  Thomas,  49,  50,  69,  loi,  147, 
189;  before  Laud,  14;  settles  in 
Newtown,  83  ;  "  Hopkinsian  " 
views,  129. 

Shepard,  Thomas,  Jr.,  172;/,  i82«. 

Shepard,  Thomas,  3d,  214. 

Shepherd,  George  R.,  41. S- 

Sherman,  John,  159,  172^,  192^,  213. 

Silverwood,  Thomas,  25. 

Simsbury,  vote  of  Society  endorsing 
Cambridge  Platform,  309«. 

Singing,  in  early  N.  E.  worship,  224  ; 
in  First  Church,  226-9,  320,394. 

Skelton,  Samuel,  15,  56. 

Skinner,  Alfred  R.,  415. 

Skinner,  John,  419. 

Skinner,  John,  221;/. 

Skinner,  Joseph,  22i«. 

Skinner,  Nathaniel,  461. 

Slavery,  in  Conn.,  219;/,  220«,  255;/, 
332«. 

Smith,  Alfred,  471. 

Smith,  Anne,  339, 342. 


Smith,  Arthur,  420. 

Smith,  Benjamin,  279. 

Smith,  David,  288. 

Smith,  Erastus,  396^,  471. 

Smith,  Giles,  421. 

Smith,  George,  336,  460. 

Smith,  Henry,  190,  424. 

Smith,  Henry  B.,  403. 

Smith,  J.  Gorton,  472. 

Smith,  John,  461,  463. 

Smith,  Normand,  370;/,  374,  415,  460, 

463- 
Smith,  R.  C,  471. 
Smith,  Reuben,  343,  355. 
Smith,  Samuel,  463. 
Smith,  Solomon,  336,  355;  deacon,  414. 
Smith,  Thomas,  381,  415,  471 ;  deacon, 

414- 
Smith,  W.  D.,  464. 
Societies,  formed,  2o6«. 
Sparks,  Dr.,  10. 
Spencer,  Ashbel,  461. 
Spencer,  Calvin,  471. 
Spencer,  George,  374??. 
Spencer,  Gerard,  289«. 
Spencer,  Obadiah,  22.111. 
Spencer,  Obadiah,  Jr.,  22 1«. 
Spencer,  Theodore,  461. 
Spencer,  Thomas,  59^,  420. 
Spencer,  William,  58^,  419. 
Spurstow,  31;?. 
Stanton,  Lewis  E.,  473. 
Stanton,  Thomas,  1 50,  420. 
Stanley,  Caleb,  240;?,  252. 
Stanley,  Thomas,  I57«,  419. 
Stanley,  Timothy,  419. 
Starkweather,  J.  W.,  474. 
Starr,  E.  C,  408//. 

State  House,  used  by  First  Church,  287. 
Stearns,  Henry  P.,  473 ;  deacon,  414. 
Stebbins  (Stebbing),  Edward,  sSw,  88, 

113,  419,  425  ;  deacon,  413. 
Stedman,  John,  I96«,  200. 
Steel,  Stephen,  298^,  315,  457. 
Steele,  George,  59^,  I57«,  160,  419. 
Steele,  James,  i49«,  200. 
Steele,  John,  58^,  84,  419. 
Sternhold  and  Hopkins'  Version,  225. 


INDEX. 


499 


Steward,  Joseph,  348,  36S«,  370,  460, 
462  ;  deacon,  373,  414 ;  supplies 
First  Church,  365/^,  368. 

Stiles,  Ezra,  339. 

Stiles,  Isaac,  301. 

Stocking,  George,  420, 

Stoddard,  Esther,  273;^. 

Stoddard,  Solomon,  270^ ;  volume  of 
the  Lord's  Supper,  270. 

Stone,  Collins,  415,  472  ;  deacon,  414. 

Stone,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  io8u,  446. 

Stone,  Elizabeth,  277;^,  446. 

Stone,  John,  182,  421. 

Stone,  Mary,  446. 

Stone,  Rebeccah,  446. 

Stone,  Sarah,  446. 

Stone,  Samuel,  birth,  46;  family,  46, 
47«  /  at  school,  47 ;  at  Em- 
manuel, 48 ;  studies  theology 
under  Blackerby,  49;  Lecturer 
at  Towcester,  49-50;  with  Hook- 
er, 50  ;  arrival  in  New  England, 
I,  18  ;  ordained  at  Newtown,  62  ; 
removal  to  Hartford,  84;  home 
lot,  87;  Pequot  war,  92-4;  Synod 
of  1637,  97;  marries,  108;  Synod 
of  1646-8,  113;  quarrel  in  the 
church,  causes,  154-6;  resigns, 
156;  council  of  1657,  162;  at 
Boston,  193;  letter  to  the  church, 
164;  petition  to  the  court,  167  ; 
council  of  1659,  173;  high  min- 
isterial views,  175  ;  death,  176  ; 
commemorative  poems,  443 ; 
will,  445;  character  and  writings, 
i8o-i. 

Stone,  Samuel,  Jr.,  446;  death,  241^, 

450. 
Storrs,  Melancthon,  415,  473. 
Storrs,  William  M.,  474. 
Stoves,  introduced  into  meeting-house, 

355- 
Strong,  C.  C,  472. 
Strong,  Frances  A.,  342«. 
Strong,  John,  338. 
Strong,  John  McCurdy,  342;?. 
Strong,  Nathan,  Sr.,  337,  338. 
Strong,  Nathan,  340,  366,  463 ;  birth 

and  parentage,  338  ;  early  life. 


339  ;  settled  over  First  Church, 
335-7,  340;  marries,  339,  342; 
children,  342;?  ;  character  of  his 
ministry,  342,  344,  356;  distill- 
ing enterprise,  343 ;  writings, 
345-9>  362« ;  missions,  349  ; 
"  Conn.  Evangelical  Magazine," 
350 ;  conference  house,  357  ; 
"  North  Presbyterian  Church," 
35S  ;  traits  and  anecdotes,  360-2; 
death,  365. 

Strong,  Nathan,  3d,  342;?.,  368«. 

Strong,  Nathan,  4th,  342^. 

Strong,  Sarah  B.,  342^. 

Stuyvesant,  Peter,  i77«. 

Sugden,  William  E.,  472,  474. 

Sunckquassen,  Syn. 

Sunday-schools,  organized,  374. 

Surplice,  Puritan  scruples,  8. 

Swift,  Lemuel,  463. 

Swift,  Rowland,  289;?.,  353«.,  473,  481  ; 
deacon,  414. 

Symmes,  Zechariah,  jy2fi.,  ig2n. 

Synod,  Hutchinsonian  of  1637,  97-101; 
Cambridge,  1643,  m  5  Cam- 
bridge, 1(546-8,113-15;  Boston, 
1657,  192-3;  Boston,  1662,  194; 
Reforming  Synod,  1679,  245-6  ; 
Saybrook,  1708,  263-8,  452. 


Taintor,   Henry  E.,  473  ;  deacon,  414. 
Taintor,  James  U.,  474. 
Talcott  Family,  278«. 
Talcott,  Abigail,  277,  278«. 
Talcott,  Esther,  460. 
Talcott,  Helena,  315,  330«,  332. 
Talcott,  John,  58^,  i83«,  419. 
Talcott,  Joseph  (Governor),  252,  2jon, 

275,  278^,  279,  280,  290. 
Talcott,  Joseph   (deacon),  278/2,  287;/, 

313.319,413- 
Talcott,  Matthew,  461. 
Talcott,  Ruth,  253«. 
Talcott,  Samuel,  i83«. 
Talcott,  Samuel,  322,  335. 
Talcott,  William,  461. 
Taylor,  Jonathan,  283«. 


500 


THE  FIRST   CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


Taylor,  Nathaniel  W.,  revival  preach- 
ing, 379- 

Taylor,  Solomon,  462. 

Teacher,  office  of,  63-4. 

Terry,  Eliphalet,  Jr.,  461,  463. 

Terry,  Nathaniel,  462. 

Terry,  Roderick,  415. 

Terry,  Samuel,  218. 

Terry,  Seth,  ii6«,  366^,  370,  374«. 

Thacher,  Goodrich  ,&  Stillman,  472. 

Thacher,  Peter,  415,  461,  462. 

Thacker,  Elias,  9. 

Thacher,  Thomas,  i^2n. 

Thanksgiving,  in  1633,  2  ;  in  1638, 
95-6. 

Thompson,  William,  473. 

Thursday  Lecture,  69-70. 

Tilton,  20;    Church  of  St.   Peter,  21, 

23-4- 
Tisdale,  James,  472. 
Towcester,  Stone,  becomes  lecturer,  49. 
Treat,  Robert,  244. 
Treat,  Selah,  471. 
Trumbull,     Benjamin,    D.D.,    vi,    79, 

loSn,  151,  153,  169,  17 1«,  191, 

193,  248«,  254,  306. 
Trumbull,  H.  Clay,  388. 
Trumbull,  J.  Hammond,  vi,  95^,  105W, 

io8«,   iijn,  i45«,    i49«,  igSw, 

236«,  292;?,  429,  435. 
Trumbull,  John,  460,  462. 
Trumbull,  Joseph,  378^,  394;z,  471. 
Tuckney,  Anthony,  3i«. 
Tudor,  Samuel,  298M. 
Turner,  Bela,  415. 
Turner,  Caleb,  22 1«,  321. 
Turner,  Ephraim,  252. 
Turner,  William  W.,  381  ;  deacon,  414. 
Tuthill,  Elizabeth,  289;/. 
Tyler,  Frederick,  471. 
Tyler,  Moses  Coit,  izgn. 
Tyng,  Edward,  172^. 

u. 

Upson,  Thomas,  421. 
Usher  (Archbishop),  35. 


V. 

VanLennep,  Henry  J.,  382. 
Vane,  Henry,  99,  100. 
Varleth,  Caspar,  177^. 
Varleth,  Judith,  177;?. 
Veir,  Edward,  235. 
Vermilye,  Robert  G.,  398,  403. 

w. 

Wade,  Benjamin,  393;^. 

Wade,  Robert,  420. 

Wadsworth,  Catherine,  3io«. 

Wadsworth,  Daniel,  248^ ;  birth  and 
early  life,  277  ;  settled  over  First 
Church,  275-7  ;  marries  Abigail 
Talcott,  277  ;  meeting-house 
controversy,  278-287 ;  dedica- 
tion sermon,  290  ;  Whitefieldian 
movement,  292-308,  457  ;  death, 
310;  character,  310;  children, 
3io« ;  library,  458. 

Wadsworth,  Daniel  (Esq.),  310^, 378;/, 
461,  462,  463. 

Wadsworth,  David,  462. 

Wadsworth,  Elizabeth,  461,  463. 

Wadsworth,  Eunice,  461,  463. 

Wadsworth,  George,  461. 

Wadsworth,  Hannah,  3io«. 

Wadsworth,  Henry,  464. 

Wadsworth,  Jeremiah,  310^,  460. 

Wadsworth,  Jonathan,  22i«,  321. 

Wadsworth,  John,  179^,  277,  464. 

Wadsworth,  John,  464. 

Wadsworth,  Joseph,  231,  252;  hides 
the  charter,  244,  277. 

Wadsworth,  Joseph,  Jr.,  3I4«. 

Wadsworth,  Tertius,  471. 

Wadsworth,  William  (early  settler), 
58«,  277,  419,  449. 

Wadsworth,  William,  321. 

Wainwright,  Jonathan  M.,  374«. 

Wakeraan,  Samuel,  202,  419. 

Wales,  John,  463. 

Walker,  George  Leon,  405,481;  settled 
over  First  Church,  408. 

Walkley,  Henry,  421. 


INDEX. 


501 


Warburton  Chapel,  399, 404, 407, 41 1  «, 

Warburton,  John,  471. 

Warburton,  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  404. 

Ward,  Nathaniel,  criticism  of  Hooker's 
doctrines,  123. 

Ward,  Nathaniel,  I57«,  419,  425. 

Ward,  Samuel  S.,  396«,  471,  473 ;  dea- 
con, 414. 

Ware,  Mary,  236. 

Warham,  John,  69,  193,  201,  236^; 
chosen  pastor  by  Windsor  Com- 
pany, 16;  Baptism  controversy, 
185,  i86«,  i89«. 

War,  French,  demoralizing  effect,  318; 
revolutionary  religious  depres- 
sion, 340-2. 

Warner,  Andrew,  ^8n,  87,  I57«,  419; 
deacon,  59,  413. 

Warner,  John,  420. 

Warren,  Thomas,  251. 

Warwick,  Earl  of,  befriends  Hooker, 
38,  4in. 

Washburn,  Joseph,  349;?. 

Watkinson,  David,  460,  463,  471. 

Watkinson,  Robert,  378«. 

Watkinson,  William,  463. 

Watson,  William,  415,  462. 

Watts'  "  Psalms,"  introduced,  320. 

Watts,  Richard,  421. 

Watts,  William,  421. 

Waubin,  John,  255. 

Way,  Ebenezer,  281. 

Way,  George  M.,  472. 

Webb,  George  J.,  393. 

Webb,  Joseph,  256. 

Webb,  Richard,  59;;,  420. 

Webster,  Elisha,  457. 

Webster,  John,  I57«,  160,  i6in,  173, 
174,  419. 

Webster,  Robert,  I79«. 

Weld,  Lewis,  415;  deacon,  414. 

Welde,  Thomas,  69,  71. 

Welles,  Charles  T.,  474. 

Welles,  John  S.,  473. 

Welles,  Thomas,  150M,  167,  419. 

Wells,  Charles  T.,  473. 

Wells,  Daniel  H.,  415. 


Wells,  James  H.,  460,  463. 

Wells,  Mrs.  James,  464. 

Wells,  Thomas,  464. 

Westley,  William,  421. 

Westminster  Assembly,  Hooker,  Cot- 
ton and  Davenport  invited,  no; 
influence  in  N.  E.,  ni-2. 

Westover,  James,  ig6n. 

Westwood,  William,  59;/,  419;  con- 
stable of  Conn.,  83-4. 

Wheaton,  Noah,  471. 

Wheelock,  Eleazar,  305  ;  Indian  school, 
328«. 

Wheelwright,  John,  Hutchinsonian 
controversy,  97,  99,  100. 

Whichcote,  Benjamin,  31;;. 

Whitaker,  William,  30. 

White,  John  of  Dorchester,  15,  16. 

White,  John,  58;;,  I49«,  I57«,  419,  424. 

White,  Thomas,  298«,  457. 

Whitefield,  George,  arrival  in  N.  E. 
293 ;  at  Boston,  293 ;  Hartford 
294-6;  audiences,  294«;  char 
acter  of  his  preaching,  296-7 
action  of  his  followers,  298 
360,  305 ;  testimony  of  Hart- 
ford North  Association,  298 
308,  456;  of  General  Associa- 
tion, 307  ;  his  death,  31 1«. 

Whitehead,  Samuel,  421. 

Whitgift  (Archbishop),  7. 

Whiting,  G.  S.,  474. 

Whiting,  Harriet,  374«. 

Whiting,  John,  Will,  iign. 

Whiting,  John,  183,  215,  217,  220,  242, 
450 ;  birth  and  education,  182  ; 
settled  over  First  Church,  175  ; 
witchcraft  trials,  176;  Baptism 
controversy  with  Haynes,  184, 
204 ;  division  of  the  church, 
205 ;  Second  Church  formed, 
206-8 ;  death,  209 ;  wives  and 
children,  2io«. 

Whiting,  Samuel,  of  Lynn,  159,  I92«. 

Whiting,  Samuel,  of  Windham,  2I0«. 

Whiting,  Spencer,  460,  463. 

Whiting,  William,  182,  419. 


502 


THE   FIRST  CHURCH   IN   HARTFORD. 


Whitman,  Elizabeth,  334. 

Whitman,  Elnathan,  308,  315,  337; 
pastor  of  Second  Church,  2']6n, 
277;  Whitefieldian  movement, 
295-6,  29S«,  307,  457;  regarded 
as  too  conservative,  3o6«. 

Whitman,  Samuel,  276,  308,  315; 
Whitefieldian   testimony,  298;/, 

457- 
Whitmore,  J.  H.,  473. 
Whittlesey,  Chauncey,  297. 
Wickham,  Sarah,  464. 
Wigglesworth,  Michael,  213;  supplies 

First  Church,  148  ;  occasion  of 

Stone  quarrel,  155;  death,  149. 
Wilcox,  Loyal,  415,  471  ;  deacon,  414. 
Willet,  Nathaniel,  I79«. 
William  III,  244,  245. 
Williams,  Eliphalet,  3I5«,  337. 
Williams,  Elisha,  257,  262. 
Williams,  Esther,  338. 
Williams,  Ezekiel,  393'/,  460,  463. 
Williams,  John,  270W;  captivity,  338. 
Williams,  Mary,  473. 
Williams,  Richard,  463. 
Williams,  Roger,  72,  94. 
Williams,  Samuel  P.,  460. 
Williams,  Solomon,  305. 
Williams,  Thomas  S.,  357,  378«,  381, 

463,  471  ;  deacon,  414. 
Williams,  William,  270«. 
Williamson,  Ebenezer,  279«. 
Williston,  Seth,  350^. 
Wilson,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  279,  280,  28 1. 
Wilson,  John,    17,  71,  78,    158,    170//, 

I72«;     Hutchinsonian     contro- 

versey,  99,  100. 
Windsor,  2  ;  church  call  Isaac  Foster, 

214-18;  revival,  292. 
Windsor  Company,  16,  17. 
Wing,  John,  464. 
Winterton,  Goodwin,  I79«. 
Winterton,  Gregory,  419. 
Winthrop,  John,  17,  70,  71,  74,  80,  81, 

114,    115,    167;    Hutchinsonian 

controversy,  98,  99. 
Witchcraft,  in  Hartford,  176-9. 
Wolerton,  Gregory,  I57«. 


Woodbridge,  Mrs.  Abigail,  272,  276, 
282,  286« ;  family  and  estate, 
280,  286«;  gives  land  to  First 
Society,  281,  284,  285;  with- 
draws to  Second  Church  and 
returns,  2%6n. 

Woodbridge,  Ashbel,  272. 

Woodbridge,  Benjamin,  209. 

Woodbridge,  Ephraim,  supplies  First 
Church,  253. 

Woodbridge,  James  R.,  374,  374«,  415, 
462. 

Woodbridge,  John,  238. 

Woodbridge,  Samuel,  226,  27272,  298;?, 
457 ;  settled  at  East  Hartford, 
251. 

Woodbridge,  Timothy,  birth  and  edu- 
tion,  238-9  ;  at  Kittery,  239;  set- 
tled over  First  Church,  240; 
marries  Mrs.  Foster,  240;  relig- 
ious and  political  state  of  colo- 
ny, 240-5;  revival,  247;  addi- 
tions, 249;  ill  at  Boston,  261-3; 
position  in  colony,  253 ;  Yale 
College  founded,  256;  Yale  Col- 
lege controversy,  258-63 ;  holds 
a  rival  commencement,  261;  con- 
sociational  system,  263-5;  ^^7" 
brook  synod,  265-7 ;  singing 
controversy,  226;  death,  271 ; 
eulogy,  273;  wives  and  children, 
272 ;  servants  and  slaves,  255 ; 
will,  274«.    ■ 

Woodbridge,  Timothy,  Jr.,  272. 

Woodbridge,  Timothy  3d,  272«. 

Woodbridge,  Ward,  462. 

Woodbridge,  William,  272«. 

Woodford,  Thomas,  420. 

Woods,  Leonard,  371. 

Woolcot,  Henry,  179^. 

Woolsey,  Theodore  D.,  398,  401. 

Wopigwooit,  87;?. 

Worship,  hour  and  method  of  sum- 
moning to  services  in  early  N. 
E.,  222-3,  -30" 

Worthington,  John,  3i«. 

Worthington,  William,  300. 

Wright,  G.T.,  471. 


INDEX. 


503 


Wright,  H.  J.,  471. 

Wright,  William  L.,  471. 

Wrisley,  Richard,  420. 

Wyllys  (Willis),  George,  early  settler, 
182;/,  419. 

Wyllys,  George,  313,  314".  336- 

Wyllys,  Hezekiah,  252,  275,  278«,  279, 
283^,  2S6«. 

Wyllys,  Mehitable,  219,  220,  240. 

Wyllys,  Samuel,  179^  ;  Whiting's  class- 
mate, 182. 


Wyllys,  Samuel,  460. 
Wyllys,  William,  460. 

Y. 

Yale  College,  beginnings,  255-6;  con- 
troversy as  to  location,  256-263 ; 
rival  commencements,  260. 

Yale,  Elihu,  261. 

Young,  Seth,  289«. 


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